1
|
Ransome Y, Taggart T, Huang AS, Vermund SH, Mayer KH, Nunn AS. Increasing Spiritual Beliefs are Associated With Lower HIV Incidence Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men: Results From HPTN 061 Longitudinal Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 94:196-202. [PMID: 37850978 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a limited understanding about the impact of spiritual beliefs and activities on HIV seroconversion among black men who have sex with men (BMSM), which we investigate in this study. SETTING United States. METHODS The HIV Prevention Trials Network Study 061 collected demographic and biomedical assessments among BMSM across 6 United States cities for longitudinal analysis. Spiritual beliefs and spiritual activities are constructed composite scales. Bivariate analyses among 894 who provided data at 12-month follow-up compared men who seroconverted to HIV between baseline and 6 months with those who remained uninfected with HIV at 12 months. Cox proportional hazard regression among 944 men tested spiritual beliefs and activities on the longitudinal risk of HIV seroconversion adjusting for age and any sexually transmitted infection (STI). RESULTS Among this sample, HIV incidence between baseline and 6 months was 1.69%, (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.04 to 2.77). Men who seroconverted to HIV were significantly younger than those who remained uninfected at the 12-month follow-up: (mean age 27, SD = 11 vs 37, SD = 12) and a higher proportion reported any STI (46.67% vs 11.39%, P < 0.01). A one-unit increase in spiritual beliefs was associated with lower hazard rate of seroconverting to HIV at follow-up [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.37, 95% CI: = (0.16 to 0.87)]. Religious service attendance and spiritual activities were unrelated to seroconverting. CONCLUSIONS Spirituality is important in the lives of BMSM. Biomedical and behavioral HIV prevention interventions should consider assessing spiritual beliefs in HIV care among BMSM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf Ransome
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Heaven, CT
| | - Tamara Taggart
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Heaven, CT
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute, School of Public Health, Washington, DC
| | - Amber Shu Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy University of Florida, Gainsville, FL
| | - Sten H Vermund
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Kenneth H Mayer
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Amy S Nunn
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI; and
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, RI
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lefevor GT, Etengoff C, Davis EB, Skidmore SJ, Rodriguez EM, McGraw JS, Rostosky SS. Religion/Spirituality, Stress, and Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: The Religious/Spiritual Stress and Resilience Model. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:1537-1561. [PMID: 37369080 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231179137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Although many sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) consider themselves religious or spiritual, the impact of this religiousness or spirituality (RS) on their health is poorly understood. We introduce the religious/spiritual stress and resilience model (RSSR) to provide a robust framework for understanding the variegated ways that RS influences the health of SGMs. The RSSR bridges existing theorizing on minority stress, structural stigma, and RS-health pathways to articulate the circumstances under which SGMs likely experience RS as health promoting or health damaging. The RSSR makes five key propositions: (a) Minority stress and resilience processes influence health; (b) RS influences general resilience processes; (c) RS influences minority-specific stress and resilience processes; (d) these relationships are moderated by a number of variables uniquely relevant to RS among SGMs, such as congregational stances on same-sex sexual behavior and gender expression or an individual's degree of SGM and RS identity integration; and (e) relationships between minority stress and resilience, RS, and health are bidirectional. In this manuscript, we describe the empirical basis for each of the five propositions focusing on research examining the relationship between RS and health among SGMs. We conclude by describing how the RSSR may inform future research on RS and health among SGMs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edward B Davis
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College
| | | | - Eric M Rodriguez
- Social Science Department, New York City College of Technology, City University of New York
| | - James S McGraw
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University
| | - Sharon S Rostosky
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang M, Li C, Zou K, Liang Y, Zhang R, Tang K. "They have their own people": Emotional connections, community belonging, and Chinese gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) college students' needs for sexual health support. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291550. [PMID: 37729385 PMCID: PMC10511125 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) college students in China have unique sexual health challenges, including a higher risk of HIV infection, stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) population, and limited access to LGBTQ-affirmative sexual health support. Nonetheless, previous research or policymaking has rarely addressed the students' needs for sexual health support from their perspectives. This study aims to explore GBMSM college students' perceptions and attitudes to current sexual health resources, the challenges they encounter, and their expectations to acquiring LGBTQ-affirmative sexual health information and services. The exploration was carried out through field visits and in-depth interviews with 26 GBMSM college students and eight relevant stakeholders in five cities in China. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts and fieldwork memos. Four themes emerged around the preference and needs of GBMSM students in dealing with their sexual health challenges: the association between tackling sexual health challenges and entering LGBTQ communities, the roles of emotional attachment in shaping the preference for HIV-related care and support, the desired modes of acquiring sexual health support, and the current unmet service needs. We discovered that the information-and-care-seeking behaviors of GBMSM college students are highly influenced by and connected to their participation in online and in-person LGBTQ communities. Due to the overall stigmatizing sociocultural environment of LGBTQ in China, GBMSM college students tend to rely on LGBTQ communities, seeking trust and a sense of belongingness for tackling their sexual health challenges. Conventional school-based sexual health educational programs, which often apply top-down, stigma-and-fear-based, and non-LGBTQ-inclusive teaching strategies, rarely help GBMSM college students to solve sexual health problems in real life. GBMSM college students are eager to have LGBTQ-affirmative "health managers" who can understand their emotional experiences and interpersonal contexts and assist them with sexual health issues. However, such support is generally perceived as limited by the students. Our study highlights these unmet needs of the GBMSM students and emphasizes the importance of developing future LGBTQ-affirmative sexual health programs among Chinese GBMSM college students and young GBMSM in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Yang
- Department of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chunyan Li
- Tokyo College, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Kaiyue Zou
- Epidemiology Department, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Yun Liang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Rudong Zhang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Tang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang JC, McFarland W, Arayasirikul S, Wilson EC. The association between religiosity and resilience among young trans women. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0263492. [PMID: 37523378 PMCID: PMC10389706 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Young transgender women (trans women) experience poor health in part due to discrimination. Factors that promote resilience may help young trans women positively adapt to discrimination, resulting in attenuation of poor health outcomes. While religion is sometimes a source of stigma and transphobia, qualitative studies have identified religiosity as an important resilience resource for young trans women. The goals of this study were to quantitatively measure religiosity and resilience among young trans women and to assess whether they are associated. METHODS From 2012-2013, 300 young trans women between the ages of 16-24 years were enrolled in a longitudinal study; we examined the cross-sectional baseline data on demographics, religiosity, and resilience. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis examined the correlation between demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income) and religiosity among young trans women. Additionally, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis examined the association between religiosity and resilience among young trans women, controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and income. RESULTS Participants who reported high religiosity had significantly greater odds (aOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.05-3.01, p = .03) of reporting high resilience compared to those reporting low religiosity. Black/African American participants had significantly higher odds (aOR 6.16, 95% CI 2.34-16.20, p = < .001) of reporting high religiosity compared to those who identified as White. CONCLUSION Religiosity may be an important resilience resource for young trans women. Gender affirming religious and spiritual interventions may promote resilience among some young trans women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy C Wang
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Willi McFarland
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sean Arayasirikul
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Erin C Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sallabank G, Blackburn NA, Threats M, Pulley DV, Barry MC, LeGrand S, Harper GW, Bauermeister JA, Hightow-Weidman LB, Muessig KE. Media representation, perception and stigmatisation of race, sexuality and HIV among young black gay and bisexual men. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2022; 24:1729-1743. [PMID: 34895082 PMCID: PMC9188628 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2021.2008506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Young Black gay and bisexual men who have sex with men experience stigma related to race, gender expression, sexuality and HIV status. Stigma impacts access to HIV care and prevention as well as interactions with healthcare providers. The amplification of stigma through popular media is under-researched in the health sciences. HealthMpowerment is a mobile phone optimised intervention to reduce sexual risk and support community-building for young Black gay and bisexual men (age 18-30). We analysed Forum conversations from 48 participants, 45.8% living with HIV. Of 322 stigma-relevant conversations, 18.9% referenced the media (e.g. television, news, social media) as a source of stigma. Forum conversations covered media representations of Black gay and bisexual men, media's influence on identity, and the creation of stigma by association with media representations. Cultural messages embedded in the media may accentuate stereotypes that influence perceptions of Black gay and bisexual men and disregard intersectional identities. HealthMpowerment provided a space to challenge stigmatising representations. Participants used HealthMpowerment to garner social support and celebrate positive media representations. Interventions for young Black gay and bisexual men should consider the influential role of media and include spaces for participants to process and address stigma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Sallabank
- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Natalie A. Blackburn
- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan Threats
- Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Information Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Deren V. Pulley
- Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Information Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan C. Barry
- Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sara LeGrand
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gary W. Harper
- Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - José A. Bauermeister
- Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Kathryn E. Muessig
- Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Acevedo GA, DeAngelis RT, Farrell J, Vaidyanathan B. Is it the Sermon or the Choir? Pastoral Support, Congregant Support, and Worshiper Mental Health. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS RESEARCH 2022; 64:577-600. [PMID: 36068851 PMCID: PMC9437381 DOI: 10.1007/s13644-022-00500-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although religious involvement tends to be associated with improved mental health, additional work is needed to identify the specific aspects of religious practice that are associated with positive mental health outcomes. Our study advances the literature by investigating how two unique forms of religious social support are associated with mental health. PURPOSE We explore whether support received in religious settings from fellow congregants or religious leaders is associated with participants' mental health. We address questions that are not only of interest to religion scholars, but that may also inform religious leaders and others whose work involves understanding connections between religious factors and psychological outcomes within religious communities. METHODS We test several hypotheses using original data from the "Mental Health in Congregations Study (2017-2019)", a survey of Christian and Jewish congregants from South Texas and the Washington DC area (N = 1882). Surveys were collected using both paper and online surveys and included an extensive battery of religious and mental health measures. RESULTS Congregant support has more robust direct associations with mental health outcomes than faith leader support. Increased congregant support is significantly associated (p < 0.001) with fewer symptoms of psychological distress (β = - 0.168), anxiety (β = - 0.159), and anger (β = - 0.190), as well as greater life satisfaction (β = 0.269) and optimism (β = 0.283). However, faith leader support moderates these associations such that congregant support is associated with better mental health only in cases where faith leader support is also high. When leader support is low, congregant support and mental health are not associated. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS At the conceptual level, our study adds to an extensive literature on the relationship between religious social support and mental health. Additionally, our work may provide important insights to religious leadership in terms of communications strategies, services, and resources that might enhance overall congregant mental health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A. Acevedo
- Office of Institutional Research and Strategic Analysis, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Reed T. DeAngelis
- Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Jordan Farrell
- Department of Sociology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Teizazu H, Hirsch JS, Parker RG, Wilson PA. Framing HIV and AIDS: how leaders of black religious institutions in New York City interpret and address sex and sexuality in their HIV interventions. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2022; 24:904-919. [PMID: 33810778 PMCID: PMC8486886 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2021.1898676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study explored how leaders of Black churches active in the fight against HIV conceptualised sex and sexuality when describing HIV interventions within their institutions. We analysed interviews with pastors and identified three frames through which leaders understood and communicated about sex and sexuality: (1) an evasive frame, in which participants avoided discussing behaviours and populations that have historically been disparaged within the church by emphasising involuntary risk exposure; (2) an agentic frame, which recognised sexual behaviour that differed from heteronormative conduct; and, (3) a pluralist frame, which allowed individuals to maintain their own beliefs about appropriate sexual conduct. Participants used frames to engage in a range of HIV interventions while upholding stigmatising beliefs about sexual behaviour and identity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hawi Teizazu
- Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lefevor GT, Tamez Guerrero NA, Paiz JY, Sheffield PE, Milburn HE. The Congregational Structure of Homonegativity: Why Place of Worship May Matter More than Frequency of Worship. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2022; 69:1275-1299. [PMID: 33793377 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2021.1909397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Using 239 congregants from 14 randomly selected places of worship in the Southern United States-and a mega-analysis of 577 congregants from 34 similarly-located places of worship-we examined the relationship between religiousness and homonegativity. Multilevel models examining the effects of religiousness on homonegativity indicated that service attendance was more strongly related to homonegativity as a congregation-level variable than as an individual-level variable. Interaction effects between service attendance and the affirmativeness of a congregation were not significant, suggesting that the frequency of participation with a homonegative congregation is not related to homonegativity. These findings imply that the religiousness of a congregation is more closely related to homonegativity than the religiousness of an individual and that individuals may select a congregation that matches their views on same-sex sexuality. Homonegativity may serve a signaling function, enabling congregants to affiliate with a congregation with attitudes toward same-sex sexuality similar to their own.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Tyler Lefevor
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | | | - Jacqueline Y Paiz
- Department of Counseling Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Hannah E Milburn
- Department of Psychology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Duncan DT, Ransome Y, Park SH, Jackson SD, Kawachi I, Branas CC, Knox J, Al-Ajlouni YA, Mountcastle H, Miles CH, Hickson DA. Neighborhood social cohesion, religious participation and sexual risk behaviors among cisgender black sexual minority men in the southern United States. Soc Sci Med 2021; 279:113913. [PMID: 33991789 PMCID: PMC8336607 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have examined associations between neighborhood social cohesion and sexual risk behaviors among gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men (SMM), and none have among Black SMM in the southern U.S. The purpose of the current study is to examine associations between neighborhood social cohesion and sexual risk behaviors among Black SMM in the southern U.S., a population heavily impacted by HIV. We also examined whether these relationships are modified by religious participation for Black SMM in the southern U.S. METHODS Data was obtained from the MARI Study, a sample of Black SMM ages 18-66 years, recruited from the Jackson, MS and Atlanta, GA metropolitan areas (n = 354). Neighborhood social cohesion was assessed with a validated 5-item scale. We conducted multivariable regression analyses to examine the association between neighborhood social cohesion with each of the sexual risk behaviors (e.g., condomless sex and drug use before or during sex), controlling for key confounders. We then performed moderation analysis by religious participation (religious attendance and private religiosity). RESULTS Compared to Black SMM with higher perceived neighborhood social cohesion, Black SMM with lower neighborhood social cohesion had increased odds of alcohol use before or during sex (aPR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.16-2.11) and condomless anal sex with casual partners (aPR = 1.55; 1.03-2.32). However, the magnitude of these associations varied by religious attendance and private religiosity. Black SMM with low religious service attendance had higher risk of alcohol use in the context of sex when perceived neighborhood social cohesion was low; those with high private religiosity had elevated alcohol use in the context of sex when perceived neighborhood social cohesion was low. DISCUSSION Interventions that target connectedness among neighborhood members through community education or mobilization efforts, including the involvement of religious organizations, should be considered for HIV prevention focused on alcohol and condomless sex among Black SMM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin T Duncan
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yusuf Ransome
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Su Hyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Skyler D Jackson
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles C Branas
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin Knox
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yazan A Al-Ajlouni
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hayden Mountcastle
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caleb H Miles
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lagana` L, Balian OA, Nakhla MZ, Zizumbo J, Greenberg S. A preliminary model of health regarding sexual and ethnic minority older adults. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2021; 23:333-348. [PMID: 32133922 PMCID: PMC7773154 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2019.1710566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Older individuals with sexual/gender minority and minority racial/ethnic identities typically face unique challenges, along with opportunities to overcome these obstacles. Published studies on the difficulties faced by sexual and gender minorities are available; however, research on older adults with both racial/ethnic minority and sexual and gender minority identities is rarer. These individuals must confront various forms of discrimination related to ageism, homophobia and racism. Resilience likely plays a role in the ability to manage and survive multiple challenges and discriminatory experiences, yet targeted research on these populations is lacking. This paper offers a preliminary model that incorporates prevalent threats to these populations' well-being and their deleterious psychosocial correlates, especially, whenever available, the unique challenges that older individuals must face when age, sexual orientation and race/ethnicity intersect. Recommendations are made to optimise the expansion and empirical testing of this preliminary model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Lagana`
- Department of Psychology, California State University Northridge, CA, USA
| | - Ovsanna A. Balian
- Doctoral Program in Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Marina Z. Nakhla
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego (SDSU/UCSD), San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Juan Zizumbo
- Department of Psychology, California State University Northridge, CA, USA
| | - Shayna Greenberg
- Department of Psychology, California State University Northridge, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|