Intersectional Microaggressions, Sexual Identity Concealment, and Mental Health of Young Black Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women. Arch Sex Behav 2024 Apr;53(4):1245-1254
Date
12/20/2023Pubmed ID
38114872DOI
10.1007/s10508-023-02777-2Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85180211553 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated associations between experiences of microaggressions and negative mental and physical health outcomes, and national organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have acknowledged racism as a public health issue. Individuals with multiple marginalized identities, such as young Black men who have sex with men and transgender women, are commonly affected by discrimination and stigma, contributing to health disparities. One possible path by which microaggressions are linked to negative health outcomes for these groups is their impact on individuals' decisions to conceal their sexual identity, in some cases leading to increased stress and use of maladaptive coping strategies. We surveyed 280 young Black male (86%) and transgender or non-binary (14%) individuals between the ages of 16-25 years old (M = 21.68, SD = 2.73) who reported being recently sexually active with men about their experiences with intersectional microaggressions, concealment of their sexual identity, psychological distress, and substance use before and during sexual activity. Structural equation modeling revealed that experiences of microaggressions were associated with greater sexual identity concealment, and concealment partially mediated the relationship between microaggressions and psychological distress. While microaggressions were associated with greater substance use, sexual identity concealment did not mediate this relationship. Findings have implications for addressing health disparities among this population.
Author List
Craig A, Walsh J, Quinn KAuthors
Katherine Quinn PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinJennifer L. Walsh PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Female
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Sexual Behavior
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Substance-Related Disorders
Transgender Persons
Young Adult
