Conscious Strategies for Critical Youth: A Scoping Systematic Review of LGBTQ+ Targeted Interventions Through a Critical Consciousness Lens

Researchers have called for a better understanding of interventions that support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth and their youth and adult allies in promoting structural change to dismantle systemic oppression within their social contexts. To synthesize and organize this fragmented field, we drew on the critical consciousness framework and analyzed existing interventions through the lenses of critical reflection, critical motivation, and critical action. A systematic search across eight databases identified 43 studies eligible for inclusion. These studies depict a quit established field employing a range of methodological approaches, including 30 qualitative, seven quantitative, and six mixed-methods studies. Most interventions were conducted in school settings and targeted LGBTQ+ secondary school students or, when focused on adults, (pre-service) teachers. We synthesized the study outcomes and examined how the dimensions of critical consciousness were conceptualized in relation to the marginalization of LGBTQ+ youth. While 28 studies reported outcomes related to critical reflection and 25 reported critical action, critical motivation was comparatively under addressed, with only 16 study outcomes identified. Finally, we reflect on the reciprocal relationships among critical reflection, critical motivation, and critical action, offering a more nuanced understanding of how these dimensions interact. Overall, our findings indicate that fostering critical consciousness among LGBTQ+ youth and their allies is a promising avenue for supporting structural change efforts.