Bruce Douglas, Harper Gary W, Bauermeister Jose A
Department of Health Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois.
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers. 2015 Sep;2(3):287-296. doi: 10.1037/sgd0000128.
Minority stress processes have been shown to have significant associations with negative mental health outcomes among sexual minority populations. Given that adversity may be experienced growing up as a sexual minority in heteronormative, if not heterosexist, environments, our research on resilience among sexual minority male youth proposes that positive identity development may buffer the effects of a range of minority stress processes.
An ethnically diverse sample of 200 sexual minority males ages 16-24 (mean age, 20.9 years) was recruited using mixed recruitment methods. We developed and tested two new measures: concealment stress during adolescence and sexual minority-related positive identity development. We then tested a path model that assessed the effects of minority stressors, positive identity development, and social support on major depressive symptoms.
Experience of stigma was associated with internalized homophobia (β=.138, p<.05) and major depressive symptoms (β=1.076, OR=2.933, p<.001), and internalized homophobia partially mediated experience's effects on major depression (β=.773, OR=2.167, p<.001). Concealment stress was associated with positive identity development (β=.155, p<.05) and internalized homophobia (β=.418, p<.001), and positive identity development partially mediated concealment stress's effects on internalized homophobia (β=-.527, p<.001). Concealment stress demonstrated a direct effect on major depression (β=1.400, OR=4.056, p<.001), and indirect paths to social support through positive identity development.
With these results, we offer an exploratory model that empirically identifies significant paths among minority stress dimensions, positive identity development, and major depressive symptoms. This study helps further our understanding of minority stress, identity development, and resources of resilience among sexual minority male youth.
少数群体压力过程已被证明与性少数群体的负面心理健康结果存在显著关联。鉴于在异性恋规范（即便不是异性恋歧视）的环境中成长为性少数群体可能会经历逆境，我们对性少数男性青年复原力的研究提出，积极的身份认同发展可能会缓冲一系列少数群体压力过程的影响。
采用混合招募方法招募了200名年龄在16 - 24岁（平均年龄20.9岁）的不同种族性少数男性样本。我们开发并测试了两项新指标：青少年时期的隐瞒压力和与性少数群体相关的积极身份认同发展。然后我们测试了一个路径模型，该模型评估了少数群体压力源、积极身份认同发展和社会支持对重度抑郁症状的影响。
耻辱感经历与内化的恐同心理（β = 0.138，p <.05）和重度抑郁症状（β = 1.076，OR = 2.933，p <.001）相关，并且内化的恐同心理部分介导了经历对重度抑郁的影响（β = 0.773，OR = 2.167，p <.001）。隐瞒压力与积极身份认同发展（β = 0.155，p <.05）和内化的恐同心理（β = 0.418，p <.001）相关，并且积极身份认同发展部分介导了隐瞒压力对内化恐同心理的影响（β = -0.527，p <.001）。隐瞒压力对重度抑郁有直接影响（β = 1.400，OR = 4.056，p <.001），并且通过积极身份认同发展对社会支持有间接路径。
基于这些结果，我们提供了一个探索性模型，该模型通过实证确定了少数群体压力维度、积极身份认同发展和重度抑郁症状之间的重要路径。本研究有助于进一步加深我们对性少数男性青年中的少数群体压力、身份认同发展和复原力资源的理解。
