Huebner David M, Davis Mary C
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, USA.
Health Psychol. 2007 Sep;26(5):627-34. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.26.5.627.
Theories of minority stress posit that experiences of discrimination are stressful events with the potential to cause mental and physical illness. Although some empirical studies have demonstrated a positive linear association between perceived discrimination and a variety of health outcomes, 2 studies of African Americans have revealed that those of lower occupational status who report no discrimination have higher tonic blood pressure compared with those who report modest amounts of discrimination. The authors of the present study sought to determine if this provocative pattern of findings could be replicated using a different population and different health outcomes.
Gay and bisexual men (n = 361) were recruited through outreach to venues and community events and through advertising in local publications. They responded to survey questions using a self-administered paper questionnaire, the Internet, or a telephone.
Men self-reported their frequency of nonprescription medication use, number of physician visits, and number of sick days from work during the past year.
Perceived discrimination interacted with participant education, yielding an association between discrimination and health outcomes that was curvilinear (U-shaped) among men with lower education and an association that was positive among men with relatively higher education.
This unusual pattern of results in gay and bisexual men replicates the findings from previous research with African American men and suggests that failing to recognize or acknowledge discrimination can have negative health consequences for some individuals from marginalized groups.
少数群体压力理论认为，歧视经历是有可能导致精神和身体疾病的应激事件。尽管一些实证研究表明，感知到的歧视与多种健康结果之间存在正线性关联，但两项针对非裔美国人的研究显示，职业地位较低且报告未遭受歧视的人与报告遭受一定程度歧视的人相比，其静息血压更高。本研究的作者试图确定，这种引人深思的研究结果模式能否在不同人群和不同健康结果的研究中得到重复验证。
通过在场所和社区活动中进行宣传以及在当地出版物上刊登广告，招募了男同性恋者和双性恋者（n = 361）。他们通过自行填写纸质问卷、互联网或电话来回答调查问题。
男性自我报告过去一年中使用非处方药的频率、看医生的次数以及因病缺勤的天数。
感知到的歧视与参与者的教育程度存在交互作用，在受教育程度较低的男性中，歧视与健康结果之间呈现出曲线（U形）关联，而在受教育程度相对较高的男性中，二者呈现出正相关。
男同性恋者和双性恋者中这种不寻常的结果模式重复了之前针对非裔美国男性的研究结果，表明未能认识或承认歧视可能会对一些边缘化群体的个体产生负面健康影响。
