Graduate Studies
First Advisor
Jordan Soliz
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Communication Studies
Date of this Version
Spring 2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Citation
A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Communication Studies
Under the supervision of Professor Jordan Soliz
Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2024
Abstract
In this dissertation I aim to test direct and moderating associations between bisexual liminal identity, social identity complexity, micro-aggressions and micro-affirmations, and well-being. In Chapter One, I offer my theoretical definition of and position bisexuality as a liminal identity. Next in this chapter, I (a) hypothesize a direct association between bisexual liminal identity and well-being, (b) posit competing hypotheses related to social identity complexity as a positive cognitive appraisal moderator (i.e., social cure perspective) and negative cognitive appraisal moderator (i.e., uncertainty identity perspective) of the main effect, and finally (c) posit hypotheses related to individual- and group-aimed micro-aggressions and micro-affirmations as communicative appraisal moderators of the main effect. In Chapter Two, I outline the methods, detailing recruitment efforts, participant inclusion criteria and demographics, the quantitative survey design procedures, and measures—including the General Measure of Liminal Identity—Bisexual scale developed for this study. In Chapter Three, I describe and report the results of the statistical analyses testing the proposed hypotheses related to main and moderating effects. Finally, in Chapter Four I discuss theoretical implications of the results, focusing on potential implications for bisexual liminal identity theorizing and directions for future refinement of the GMLI-B scale, and conclude with limitations and directions for future research.
Advisor: Jordan Soliz
Recommended Citation
Kassler, Katie, "Do Bisexuals Thrive in the Corridor? Liminal Identity, Communication, and Well-Being" (2024). Dissertations and Doctoral Documents from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–. 104.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissunl/104
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons
Comments
Copyright 2024, Katie Kassler. Used by permission