scholarly journals An empirical examination and extension of the psychological mediation framework among gay and bisexual men: a mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle R. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Relationship

Compared to heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at an increased risk of adverse mental and sexual health outcomes. Minority Stress Theory (MST) proposes that GBM experience an increased prevalence of poor mental health outcomes as a result of minority stress. Building upon MST, the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) posits that minority stress leads to changes in general cognitive, affective, and social psychological processes, thereby leading to negative mental health outcomes. The present mixed methods study focused on three primary objectives in a sample of 261 GBM: (a) testing the indirect effects of general psychological processes in the relationship between minority stress and poor mental health outcomes; (b) evaluating whether these processes also account for the relationship between minority stress and poor sexual health outcomes; and (c) qualitatively exploring and further clarifying the PMF. Quantitative results provided support for the PMF by demonstrating that experiences of objective stigma were associated with elevations in psychological risk factors, which were in turn associated with adverse mental health outcomes. When each mediator was examined separately, affective processes had a significant effect on mental health outcomes whereas cognitive and social processes were non-significant. For sexual health, the total indirect effect of general psychological mediators in the relationship between stigma and sexual health outcomes was non-significant. However, when mediators were examined separately, cognitive processes did appear to have a significant indirect effect in this relationship, whereas affective and social processes were non-significant. Qualitative results provided partial support for the PMF; many, but not all, of the key components of the model were discussed by participants, and a number of novel themes emerged that expand beyond variables described in the PMF. These findings have important theoretical implications by helping to refine the PMF and future studies of minority stress. Further, by offering a better understanding of the mechanisms linking minority stress and poor health outcomes, this study may help guide future psychological interventions aimed at improving the health of GBM.

scholarly journals An empirical examination and extension of the psychological mediation framework among gay and bisexual men: a mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle R. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Relationship

Compared to heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at an increased risk of adverse mental and sexual health outcomes. Minority Stress Theory (MST) proposes that GBM experience an increased prevalence of poor mental health outcomes as a result of minority stress. Building upon MST, the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) posits that minority stress leads to changes in general cognitive, affective, and social psychological processes, thereby leading to negative mental health outcomes. The present mixed methods study focused on three primary objectives in a sample of 261 GBM: (a) testing the indirect effects of general psychological processes in the relationship between minority stress and poor mental health outcomes; (b) evaluating whether these processes also account for the relationship between minority stress and poor sexual health outcomes; and (c) qualitatively exploring and further clarifying the PMF. Quantitative results provided support for the PMF by demonstrating that experiences of objective stigma were associated with elevations in psychological risk factors, which were in turn associated with adverse mental health outcomes. When each mediator was examined separately, affective processes had a significant effect on mental health outcomes whereas cognitive and social processes were non-significant. For sexual health, the total indirect effect of general psychological mediators in the relationship between stigma and sexual health outcomes was non-significant. However, when mediators were examined separately, cognitive processes did appear to have a significant indirect effect in this relationship, whereas affective and social processes were non-significant. Qualitative results provided partial support for the PMF; many, but not all, of the key components of the model were discussed by participants, and a number of novel themes emerged that expand beyond variables described in the PMF. These findings have important theoretical implications by helping to refine the PMF and future studies of minority stress. Further, by offering a better understanding of the mechanisms linking minority stress and poor health outcomes, this study may help guide future psychological interventions aimed at improving the health of GBM.

Association Between Overt and Subtle Experiences of Discrimination and Violence and Mental Health in Homosexual and Bisexual Men in Mexico

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626051989842
Author(s):  
Juan C. Mendoza-Perez ◽  
Luis Ortiz-Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Gender Nonconformity ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
And Bisexual

The aim of this study was to determine whether the experiences of direct or subtle forms of discrimination and violence are associated with mental health in Mexican gay, homosexual, and bisexual (GHB) men. A cross-sectional survey was conducted online; the sample consisted of 4,827 GHB men. Ten forms of overt and subtle sexual orientation–based discrimination and violence (SO-DV) were assessed. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between SO-DV experiences and mental health outcomes. Physical violence was reported less frequently than the other forms of SO-DV. As the number of settings in which SO-DV were experienced increased, a stronger association with negative mental health outcomes was observed. Experiences of subtle SO-DV were associated with increased distress, lower vitality, and increased risk of suicidal ideation. Disapproval of gender nonconformity was associated with negative mental health outcomes independently of violence based on sexual orientation. Subtle forms of SO-DV are more common than direct and overt forms. Both types of SO-DV could negatively affect mental health. Studies investigating these negative experiences are required to gain an understanding of the health inequalities faced by non-heterosexual populations.

scholarly journals Qualitative Findings on the Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Australian Gay and Bisexual Men: Community Belonging and Mental Well-being

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110392
Author(s):  
Steven P. Philpot ◽  
Martin Holt ◽  
Dean Murphy ◽  
Bridget Haire ◽  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Community Belonging ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

COVID-19 may threaten the already poor mental health outcomes of Australian gay and bisexual men and cut ties to important social/sexual networks and community. Qualitative research into the experiences of gay and bisexual men during COVID-19 regulations is currently sparse. We report on 489 responses to a qualitative free-text question asking Australian gay and bisexual men about the impacts of COVID-19 during April 2020. Issues pertinent to gay and bisexual men include lost ties to gay and bisexual social/sexual communities, spaces, and activities, which can reduce a sense of belonging to important sexual identity spaces, as well as significant mental well-being vulnerabilities. Reminiscing the collective response to HIV/AIDS, findings reinforce the value of gay and bisexual community organizations, spaces, and networks as supports for gay and bisexual men and emphasize the need for delivering mental health services.

scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms Among Older, Sexual Minority Adults and the Influence of Marital Status

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Briana Mezuk ◽  
Rachel Bergmans ◽  
Victoria Schoebel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract Adverse health outcomes, including poor mental health and depression, tend to be more common among those who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). Minority stress theory posits that chronic minoritization contributes to disparities in depression. Factors like social support and income can improve mental health outcomes, and these resilience-promoting factors can be gained through marriage. However, whether marriage improves mental health outcomes in old age regardless of sexual orientation is not well established. This study aims to determine if depressive symptoms differ by sexual orientation in old age, and to test whether the association between depression and sexual orientation was moderated by marital status. The 2016 Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults older than 50 years (n=4,253), was the first wave to include respondent sexual orientation. Depressive symptoms were measured on the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Those with a score greater than or equal to 3 were considered to have elevated depressive symptoms. When testing main effects in the adjusted model, depression was not more common among LGB persons than heterosexual persons (OR=0.95; 95% CI=0.46-2.00). Yet, marital status significantly moderated the relationship between sexual orientation and depression (p=0.034). Among heterosexual adults, being married was protective against depression (OR=0.48; 95% CI=0.32-0.71) when compared to being never married, whereas marriage was not protective among LGB adults (OR=0.95; 95% CI=0.26-3.45). Findings indicate that LGB adults do not experience the same mental health benefits of marriage as heterosexual individuals.

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