scholarly journals Socioeconomic Status and Psychosocial Resources Mediate Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychological Health Among Gay and Bisexual Men: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Structural Equation Modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798832110011
Author(s):  
Rainier Masa ◽  
Sylvia Shangani ◽  
Don Operario
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Collective Self ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Everyday Discrimination

A large body of research demonstrates disparities in psychological health attributed to sexual minority identity, racial/ethnic minority identity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Fewer studies have explicated the role of these multiple attributes on psychological health and explored the role of SES and psychosocial resources in determining outcomes. We analyzed data from Project STRIDE, a longitudinal survey involving a diverse sample of gay and bisexual adult men ( n = 198). Using structural equation modeling, we tested hypothesized direct and indirect effects of race/ethnicity, SES, and three psychosocial mediational variables (collective self-efficacy, everyday discrimination, internalized homophobia) on two outcome variables—psychological and social well-being—assessed at 1-year follow-up. Our model indicated that: (1) race/ethnicity and SES were significantly associated with each other and with each psychosocial mediator; (2) higher SES was directly and indirectly associated with both measures of well-being; and (3) collective self-esteem and everyday discrimination mediated the association between SES and both measures of well-being. The model also indicated that racial/ethnic associations with psychological mediators and outcomes are evident in the context of SES, but these effects might be suppressed when the model does not consider SES. Findings highlight the critical role of SES and race/ethnicity in determining the psychological and social well-being of sexual minority men. Specification of mediating variables—collective self-efficacy, everyday discrimination, internalized homophobia—indicates potential intervention targets to improve psychological and social health in sexual minority men. Associations between race/ethnicity and SES support the need for intersectional frameworks in addressing the health of sexual minority men.

Cortisol profiles differ by race/ethnicity among young sexual minority men

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie H. Cook ◽  
Robert-Paul Juster ◽  
Benjamin J. Calebs ◽  
Justin Heinze ◽  
Alison L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Racial Discrimination, Sexual Partner Race/Ethnicity, and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Sexual Minority Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1799-1809
Author(s):  
Devin English ◽  
DeMarc A. Hickson ◽  
Denton Callander ◽  
Melody S. Goodman ◽  
Dustin T. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Minority stress, intra-minority stress and social anxiety: Examining an extended psychological mediation framework among sexual minority men

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Mahon ◽  
G Kiernan ◽  
P Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Rejection Sensitivity ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Lgbt Community ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Everyday Discrimination

Abstract Background Compared to their heterosexual counterparts, sexual minority men (SMM) are at an increased risk of social anxiety disorder. Distal (i.e., everyday discrimination) and proximal (i.e., internalised homophobia, rejection sensitivity, concealment of sexual orientation) minority stress processes are associated with heightened social anxiety for SMM. Stressors emerging from within the sexual minority male community, termed intra-minority stress, and psychological processes that may foster resilience (i.e., a sense of coherence, connectedness to the LGBT community) are less explored in this area. This study examined potential pathways between everyday discrimination, intra-minority stress, proximal minority stressors, resilience and social anxiety. Methods Self-identified SMM (N = 255) residing in the Republic of Ireland completed an online survey containing measures of minority stress, intra-minority stress, resilience and social anxiety. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the model. Results The model yielded a good fit to the data, X2(16) = 26.61, CFI = .99, TLI = .97, RMSEA = .05, and SRMR = .03. Rejection sensitivity and a sense of coherence had a significant indirect effect in the relationships between both exogenous variables (i.e., discrimination and intra-minority stress) and social anxiety. There were no significant pathways to social anxiety involving concealment of sexual orientation, internalised homophobia or LGBT community connectedness. Conclusions For SMM, minority stress processes and intra-minority stress are important determinants of social anxiety. Our findings demonstrate that proximal minority stressors may operate differently in a social anxiety context for SMM in western European countries. A sense of coherence was an integral factor in the model and demonstrated the strongest association with social anxiety.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of LGBT-affirming churches in health promotion for Black sexual minority men

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1191-1206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan J. White ◽  
Derek T. Dangerfield ◽  
Erin Donovan ◽  
Derek Miller ◽  
Suzanne M. Grieb
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men

scholarly journals Venturing beyond the “Behavioural MSM”: Sex, Chems, & Satisfaction in their Syndemic Contexts

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Steady Partner ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND: The health and well-being of those sexual-minority men who are often behaviourally defined as men who have sex with men (MSM) is affected by a system of interlinked factors that interact on the structural, interpersonal, and individual levels. Recently, two of the most common MSM health issues have been (a) the risks of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mostly HIV, and (b) the sexualized use of addictive substances, known as chemsex. AIMS: On the basis of the first comprehensive Czech dataset to integrate several mutually interlinked factors on the behavioural, as well as the psychological and structural domains, we attempt to shed light on the barriers to HIV testing and adherence to safer sex practices, including the most thorough description of the chemsex phenomenon that is available. We aim to go beyond the behavioural perspective and draw links to the well-being and satisfaction of this sexual minority and their sex lives. METHODS: A series of descriptive statistical analyses was conducted on a sample of 547 respondents obtained within a self-administered online survey. RESULTS: More than half of our respondents (55%) and three-quarters (72%) of the men younger than 25 years have never been tested for HIV. One-third of the respondents considered testing services to be insufficiently friendly to gay, bisexual, or other men, and they also reported stigmatization and discrimination by healthcare workers as a problem that exists. 84% of the MSM have experience with anal sex; 43% of them always use condoms. Of all the respondents, nearly 6% have had at least one chemsex experience during their life. Only 46% of the MSM reported being satisfied with their sex lives; 52% of those who were dissatisfied attributed this to “not having a steady partner” and 49% to “not having any sex”. CONCLUSION: The sexual behaviour of MSM and their experience with HIV testing, chemsex, perceived stigma, and satisfaction with their sex lives are among the phenomena that deserve to be more regularly covered by relevant epidemiological examinations. Although our current analysis was more exploratory than in-depth, it may contribute to a better understanding of the syndemic and multifactorial conditions that influence the sexual behaviour of MSM, including the minority stress that may be rooted in deficiencies in our understanding of these populations.

scholarly journals Adult Attachment Avoidance is Associated with Cortisol Awakening Response among Young Black Sexual Minority Men as Compared to Young White Sexual Minority Men

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie H. Cook ◽  
Erica Wood ◽  
Anthea Chan
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Cortisol Awakening Response ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Stress Patterns

Research suggests that young sexual minority men (YSMM), particularly YSMM of color, are more likely to have dysregulated physiological stress responses as compared to their heterosexual counterparts. In addition, the quality of social relationships has been demonstrated to impact physiological stress patterns among young adults. One key indicator of social relationships is that of adult attachment, which refers to the types of socioemotional bonds that individuals form with peers, family, and romantic partners. However, the association between adult attachment and physiological stress functioning among diverse samples of YSMM has been underexplored. Thus, the current study sought to bridge this gap in the literature by exploring how race/ethnicity moderates the association between adult attachment and physiological stress patterns among Black versus White YSMM. N = 63 YSMM participated in a 5-day daily diary study in which they completed a baseline survey and provided saliva samples over the 5-day period in order to measure diurnal cortisol. Three-level hierarchical linear modeling was used in order to examine the association between race/ethnicity, adult attachment, and diurnal cortisol over the 5-day period. Results suggest that adult attachment avoidance was associated the cortisol awakening response (CAR) among YSMM. In addition, race/ethnicity moderated the association between adult attachment avoidance and the CAR such that YSMM who identified as Black had evidence of a more dysregulated physiological stress response as compared to YSMM who identified as White. Future research should focus on further unpacking the drivers of physiological stress patterns among White and Black YSMM.

scholarly journals The moderating role of resilience resources in the association between crime exposure and substance use among young sexual minority men

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 1787-1798
Author(s):  
Kristi E. Gamarel ◽  
Kimberly M. Nelson ◽  
Justin Heinze ◽  
Danielle M. Chiaramonte ◽  
Robin L. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Moderating Role

scholarly journals “I Do Not Like Being Me”: the Impact of Self-hate on Increased Risky Sexual Behavior in Sexual Minority People

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rosaria Nappa ◽  
Maria Giuseppina Bartolo ◽  
Jessica Pistella ◽  
Nicola Petrocchi ◽  
Angela Costabile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Risky Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Minority Participants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Minority People

Abstract Background  Increased risky sexual behaviors (RSB) in sexual minority people relative to heterosexual individuals are well documented. However, the role of trans-diagnostic factors that are not sexual orientation-specific, such as self-criticism, in predicting RSB was understudied. The present study aimed to test participants’ gender and sexual orientation as moderators between self-criticism and RSB. Methods Data were collected during 2019. The total sample included 986 sexual minority people (Nwomen = 51%) and 853 heterosexual people (Nwomen = 46%), ranging from 18 to 35 years of age. Self-criticism dimensions (self-hate, self-inadequacy, self-reassurance), types of positive affect (relaxed, safe/content, and activated affect), and RSB were assessed. Bivariate, multivariate analyses, and moderated regression analyses were conducted. Results Sexual minority participants showed higher levels of RSB, self-hate, and self-inadequacy than heterosexual people. Only in sexual minority men, RSB correlated positively with self-hate and negatively with safe/content positive affect. Moderated regressions showed that only for sexual minority participants, higher RSB were predicted by higher levels of self-hate. At the same time, this association was not significant for heterosexual people controlling the effects of age, presence of a stable relationship, other self-criticism dimensions, and activation safe/content affect scale. The two-way interaction between sexual orientation and gender was significant, showing that regardless of self-hate, the strength of the association between sexual orientation and RSB is stronger for sexual minority men than sexual minority women and heterosexual participants. Conclusions Findings highlight the distinctive role of self-hate in the occurrence of RSB in sexual minority people and support the usefulness of developing a compassion-focused intervention to target self-hate in sexual minority people.

scholarly journals Study protocol: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial of a dyadic mobile health intervention for black sexual-minority male couples with HIV in the USA

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e055448
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Cindy Kim ◽  
Lance M Pollack ◽  
Parya Saberi ◽  
Torsten B Neilands ◽  
Emily A Arnold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Male Couples ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Study Staff ◽  
Hiv Care Engagement ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Primary Relationship ◽  
Racial Ethnic

IntroductionHIV care engagement is lower among black sexual-minority men relative to other racial/ethnic groups of sexual-minority men. Being in a primary relationship is generally associated with more successful HIV care engagement across various populations. However, among black sexual-minority men, the association between primary relationship status and HIV-related outcomes is inconsistent across the HIV care continuum. Given the ubiquity of mobile technology access and use among racial/ethnic minority communities, leveraging mobile technology for HIV care engagement appears a promising intervention strategy. This paper outlines the protocol of the LetSync study, a pilot randomised controlled trial of a mobile health app intervention developed using the Framework of Dyadic HIV Care Engagement to improve care-engagement outcomes among black sexual-minority male couples living with HIV.Methods and analysisEighty black sexual-minority men in couples (n=160) will be enrolled to pilot test the LetSync app. At least one member of each dyad must be both HIV-positive and self-identify as black/African-American. Couples will be randomised to either a waitlist-control arm or an intervention that uses relationship-based approach to improve HIV care engagement. We will assess feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures and intervention protocols based on predefined metrics of feasibility and acceptability. Execution of the study will yield the opportunity to conduct analyses to test the measurement and analysis protocol on antiretroviral therapy adherence by comparing the intervention and waitlist-control arms on self-reported and biological (hair sample) measures of adherence.Ethics and disseminationStudy staff will obtain electronic consent from all participants. This study has been approved by the University of California (UCSF) Institutional Review Board. Study staff will work with the Community Advisory Board at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies Board to disseminate results to participants and the community via open discussions, presentations, journal publications and/or social media.Trial registration numberNCT04951544.

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