An Exploration of Suicide, Anxiety and Depression Within the Furry Community
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Risk and Protective Factors for SADness in the Furry Community: An Exploration of Suicide, Anxiety and Depression Within the Furry Community A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Sciences at The University of Waikato by Moses Simpson 2018 II Abstract This research explored the risk and protective factors for mental well- being within the furry community. It provided an insight into the prevalence of suicidality, anxiety and depression within the furry community. Finally, this research also sought to explore how being a member of the furry community impacted daily life and life stressors. There is little research that has been performed investigating the mental well-being of the furry community. we therefore draw comparisons with sexual minority communities as there are parallels with the furry community. This research was based upon Meyer (2003)’s Minority Model of Stress which states that minority mental well-being is modified by a range of general stressors, minority stress processes (risk factors), minority identity status, and coping and social support (protective factors). The participant sample consisted of 1249 self-identified furries, recruited from 57 countries. Participants were required to complete an online questionnaire comprising of items relating to suicidality, depression, anxiety, disclosure of furry identity, level of bullying faced, experiences of being bullied, effect of furry community on daily life, fanship, and perceived social support. We found that suicide, anxiety and depression were significant issues within the furry community and the literature suggests that there are several risk and protective factors which influence the mental well-being for members of the furry community. We found limited evidence that these risk factors were associated with mental well-being. Both bullying for non-furry specific reasons was found to be significantly positively associated with all mental well-being III measures. Fanship was also found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression. Participants reported that the furry community provided a wide range of support including emotional and social support. which was reported by many participants to have been an influential factor on improving their mental well- being and decreasing their suicidal ideation and self-harming. This study has highlighted that the furry community may provide protective factors including social support to its members. It appears to provide both practical support including providing income or housing, as well as emotional support such as providing a place to seek advice, or to vent and share their emotions. IV Acknowledgements To the 1249 furries who took part in this research, I want to say thank you for opening up and sharing your personal experiences with me. Without your trust, this thesis would have not happened. To my supervisors, Jaimie Veale, Courtney “Nuka” Plante, and Armon Tamatea. Thank you all for putting up with constant emails and providing the support, advice and knowledge to achieve this work. Jaimie – Thank you for always being able to answer my questions and guiding me throughout this journey. Thank you also for helping me draw all the threads together to complete this task. Nuka – Thank you for being a constant source of knowledge about the furry community, and for helping me get started with this research project. Armon – Thank you for taking me on even though your workload was full, your experience and knowledge was valued immensely. Finally, to my wife Anne-Marie, thank you for putting up with the constant late nights and the ridiculous amount of coffee consumed. Thank you for the endless support. encouragement and kindness. V Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 4 Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 Mental Well-being .............................................................................................................. 3 How is Mental Well-being Assessed ............................................................................... 4 What are the Risk and Protective Factors for Mental Well-being .................................. 5 Suicidality ............................................................................................................................ 7 How is Suicide Assessed .................................................................................................. 7 What are the Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide .................................................... 8 A Summary of The Literature Around Furries ..................................................................... 9 Demographics of Furries ................................................................................................. 9 Furry as a Social Identity ................................................................................................... 10 Furries as Fans ............................................................................................................... 10 Furry Fan Motivations ................................................................................................... 14 Furry Community Identities .......................................................................................... 15 Sexuality and Sexualisation of the Furry Community ................................................... 16 Bullying and Stigmatisation of the Furry Community ................................................... 17 Disclosure of Furry Identity ........................................................................................... 18 Mental Health Prevalence within the Furry Community .............................................. 19 Protective Factors within the Furry Community ........................................................... 21 Rationale for this research ................................................................................................ 23 Research questions ....................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................... 29 Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 29 Participants ................................................................................................................... 29 Questionnaire ............................................................................................................... 30 Identity disclosure and impact - IARP Furry Survey. ................................................. 31 Suicide and health professional access - Canadian Community Health Survey. ...... 31 Depression and anxiety – PHQ4. ............................................................................... 32 Fan motivations. ....................................................................................................... 33 Fanship. ..................................................................................................................... 33 Bullying. ..................................................................................................................... 34 Disclosure. ................................................................................................................. 35 VI Effect of being a furry on daily life. ........................................................................... 35 Perceived social support. .......................................................................................... 35 Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 35 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................. 36 Thematic Analysis ......................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 42 Results ............................................................................................................................... 42 Genders