Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Role of Music in Enhancing LGBT+ Students’ School Belonging: A Literature Review

Yu LiFaculty of Fine Arts and Music, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how music interventions can enhance school belonging among LGBT+ students. The study assesses the challenges faced by these students as documented in existing research, the potential benefits of music in fostering a sense of belonging, and the current status and limitations of research at the intersection of “Music and LGBT+.” To this end, a systematic search and evaluation of relevant literature was conducted, and an adapted version of Meyer’s Minority Stress Model was employed to account for the dual contributions of proximal and distal factors to the psychological stress experienced by LGBT+ students. In doing so, the cyclical relationships among incidents of prejudice, expectations of social exclusion, internalized homophobia, and the concealment of sexual orientation were mapped, along with their negative impacts on well-being and belonging. The results indicate that social stigma, structural exclusion, and cultural bias remain significant obstacles. Furthermore, analysis of the current “Music and LGBT+” research, which yielded only four peer-reviewed articles, reveals that although music can effectively regulate emotions, support identity construction, and promote social interaction, most studies still rely on qualitative or context-specific explorations and lack comprehensive quantitative data. To bridge these gaps and enhance inclusive education, this paper suggests that future research should adopt interdisciplinary approaches to design structured music intervention programs, expand empirical investigations, and inform the development of inclusive policies.

Keywords: Music; LGBT+ Students; School Belonging; Minority Stress Model; Inclusive Education
Published: March 31, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.21654
Volume: CHR Vol.54
pp. 21-26
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