Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention
This study explored whether metaverse-based support groups could address social isolation and suicide risks among LGBTQ+ youths by providing enhanced anonymity, avatar-based self-expression, and improved accessibility. Over one year, 53 individuals aged 14–23 participated in regular online sessions...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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İzmir Akademi Derneği
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Metaverse |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4608846 |
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| _version_ | 1849703233105166336 |
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| author | Joe Hasei Yosuke Matsumoto Hiroki Kawai Yuko Okahisa Manabu Takaki Toshifumi Ozaki |
| author_facet | Joe Hasei Yosuke Matsumoto Hiroki Kawai Yuko Okahisa Manabu Takaki Toshifumi Ozaki |
| author_sort | Joe Hasei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explored whether metaverse-based support groups could address social isolation and suicide risks among LGBTQ+ youths by providing enhanced anonymity, avatar-based self-expression, and improved accessibility. Over one year, 53 individuals aged 14–23 participated in regular online sessions facilitated via the "cluster" metaverse platform by a non-profit LGBTQ+ organization. Each 90-minute session included voice and text-based interactions within a specially designed single-floor virtual space featuring conversation areas and a designated "safe area" for emotional regulation. Post-session questionnaires (5-point Likert scales) captured demographics, avatar preferences, self-confidence, and perceived safety, self-expression, and accessibility; responses were analyzed with Pearson's chi-squared test and Mann–Whitney U tests (α=0.05). Results indicated that 79.2% of participants selected avatars aligned with their gender identity, reporting high satisfaction (mean = 4.10/5) and minimal discomfort (mean = 1.79/5). Social confidence was significantly higher in the metaverse compared with real-world settings (p |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d28c823d9a434a1d88134b251d4ab245 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2792-0232 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | İzmir Akademi Derneği |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Metaverse |
| spelling | doaj-art-d28c823d9a434a1d88134b251d4ab2452025-08-20T03:17:22Zengİzmir Akademi DerneğiJournal of Metaverse2792-02322025-12-015215616710.57019/jmv.16397012220Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early InterventionJoe Hasei0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4028-0786Yosuke Matsumoto1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5538-0827Hiroki Kawai2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4441-9896Yuko Okahisa3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1125-0761Manabu Takaki4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7371-2821Toshifumi Ozaki5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1732-9307Okayama UniversityDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesScience of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceu-tical Sciences, Okayama UniversityThis study explored whether metaverse-based support groups could address social isolation and suicide risks among LGBTQ+ youths by providing enhanced anonymity, avatar-based self-expression, and improved accessibility. Over one year, 53 individuals aged 14–23 participated in regular online sessions facilitated via the "cluster" metaverse platform by a non-profit LGBTQ+ organization. Each 90-minute session included voice and text-based interactions within a specially designed single-floor virtual space featuring conversation areas and a designated "safe area" for emotional regulation. Post-session questionnaires (5-point Likert scales) captured demographics, avatar preferences, self-confidence, and perceived safety, self-expression, and accessibility; responses were analyzed with Pearson's chi-squared test and Mann–Whitney U tests (α=0.05). Results indicated that 79.2% of participants selected avatars aligned with their gender identity, reporting high satisfaction (mean = 4.10/5) and minimal discomfort (mean = 1.79/5). Social confidence was significantly higher in the metaverse compared with real-world settings (phttps://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4608846lgbtq+ youthsocial isolationsuicide preventionavatar-based interventions |
| spellingShingle | Joe Hasei Yosuke Matsumoto Hiroki Kawai Yuko Okahisa Manabu Takaki Toshifumi Ozaki Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention Journal of Metaverse lgbtq+ youth social isolation suicide prevention avatar-based interventions |
| title | Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention |
| title_full | Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention |
| title_fullStr | Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention |
| title_short | Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention |
| title_sort | metaverse support groups for lgbtq youth an observational study on safety self expression and early intervention |
| topic | lgbtq+ youth social isolation suicide prevention avatar-based interventions |
| url | https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4608846 |
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