The Influence of Social Media Social Support on the Flourishing Homosexual Identity: A Case Study of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Community in Accra-Ghana

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the influence of social media and social support on the flourishing homosexual identity in Accra, Ghana. The objectives were to determine the extent to which social support influence’s homosexual identity, the correlation between homosexual identity and flourishing levels among homosexuals, to ascertain the extent to which media, emotional, and social support predicts how homosexuals flourish, and finally to as certain how differences in the level of education predict how homosexuals flourish in Accra, Ghana. A case study design was employed. The population for this study was associates of the homosexual Community in Accra-Ghana. Using a purposive sampling technique, 142 homosexual respondents answered a standard questionnaire. Berlin Social Support scale (BSSS), Diener Flourishing scale Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale were used on demographics, social support, flourishing, and lesbian, gay, bisexual identity. Data was analysed using simple linear regression, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance. Results obtained indicated that social support does not predict homosexual identity among homosexuals in Accra. As an individual homosexual identity increases so does the level with which the individual flourishes. Thirdly, social media emotional, and social support was found to be a predictor of flourishing among homosexuals in Accra. Finally, the results also indicated that differences in the level of education do not predict how homosexuals flourish in Accra. The conclusion indicates that study has shown that differences in the level of education among homosexuals do not influence the extent to which homosexuals flourish.