Using Animation to Teach Romantic Relationship Perspective Taking Skills to LGBTQ plus Emerging Adults: A Feasibility Study

Given the dearth of relationship education that targets queer youth, this study assessed the feasibility of using animation to teach perspective taking skills to emerging adults in queer romantic relationships. We developed a 3-min demonstration animation featuring characters designed to appeal to queer youth. Feasibility was assessed through the perceived message effectiveness of the animation, believability of the content, and behavioral intentions to watch a full-length animation and to recommend it to partners and friends. We also explored associations between these indicators and relationship characteristics, such as satisfaction and conflict strategies. The demonstration animation was rated as engaging, effective, and believable; and participants indicated they were likely to watch a full-length animation and recommend it to their partners and friends. Greater perceived message effectiveness and believability were positively related to greater behavioral intention to watch a full-length animation and encourage partners and friends to do so. Those with more relationship satisfaction rated the demonstration animation higher in all the message indicators. Results were similar in a supplemental sample of mostly heterosexual college students. Overall, the findings support developing animations to provide effective relationship education for emerging adults in queer relationships.