Sociocultural Contexts and Stressors
Racism, sexism, homophobia, and low socioeconomic status (SES) have the potential to affect physical and mental health outcomes and treatment differentially. This chapter examines each of these sociocultural factors, guided by the assumption that an intersectionality analysis is valuable to conceptualizing the consequences of these categories of identity and diversity. The minority stress framework is used to consider the negative effect of carrying a marginalized identity. A review of the literature is presented, highlighting studies that incorporate the multiple and overlapping effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, and low SES to shape mental and physical health outcomes and treatment of individuals. Implications for mental and physical health research and practice are discussed.