Intersecting Epidemics: Examining the Impact of Internalized Homophobia and Depression Symptoms on HIV Testing Through a Suicide Syndemic Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.
Donte T Boyd, Omar Martinez, Tural Mammadli, Osman Wumpini Shamrock, Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are, Typhanye V Dyer
{"title":"Intersecting Epidemics: Examining the Impact of Internalized Homophobia and Depression Symptoms on HIV Testing Through a Suicide Syndemic Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.","authors":"Donte T Boyd, Omar Martinez, Tural Mammadli, Osman Wumpini Shamrock, Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are, Typhanye V Dyer","doi":"10.1007/s40615-024-02225-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Young Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the USA face disproportionate rates of HIV incidence. Mental health vulnerabilities, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma, further exacerbate the HIV epidemic among this population. Internalized homophobia, discrimination, and depression contribute to elevated rates of suicidal behavior among young BMSM, which in turn may influence engagement in HIV prevention behaviors, such as HIV testing. However, limited research has examined the interplay among suicidal behaviors, internalized homophobia, depression, and HIV testing among young BMSM. This study utilized syndemic theory to explore the relationships among these factors in a sample of 400 young BMSM ages 18-29. Results indicate alarming rates of suicidal behavior among young BMSM, with significant associations among internalized homophobia, depression symptoms, suicidal behavior, and HIV testing. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and HIV prevention services tailored to address the unique challenges faced by young BMSM. Comprehensive, multi-level, community-centered interventions are essential to address the syndemics affecting young BMSM, promoting holistic health and well-being while improving outcomes across the HIV prevention continuum.</p>","PeriodicalId":16921,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-02225-4","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Young Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the USA face disproportionate rates of HIV incidence. Mental health vulnerabilities, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma, further exacerbate the HIV epidemic among this population. Internalized homophobia, discrimination, and depression contribute to elevated rates of suicidal behavior among young BMSM, which in turn may influence engagement in HIV prevention behaviors, such as HIV testing. However, limited research has examined the interplay among suicidal behaviors, internalized homophobia, depression, and HIV testing among young BMSM. This study utilized syndemic theory to explore the relationships among these factors in a sample of 400 young BMSM ages 18-29. Results indicate alarming rates of suicidal behavior among young BMSM, with significant associations among internalized homophobia, depression symptoms, suicidal behavior, and HIV testing. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and HIV prevention services tailored to address the unique challenges faced by young BMSM. Comprehensive, multi-level, community-centered interventions are essential to address the syndemics affecting young BMSM, promoting holistic health and well-being while improving outcomes across the HIV prevention continuum.
交叉流行病:通过男男性行为者中的自杀综合症,研究内化的同性恋恐惧症和抑郁症状对 HIV 检测的影响。
在美国,年轻的黑人男男性行为者(BMSM)面临着不成比例的艾滋病发病率。心理健康方面的脆弱性,包括抑郁、焦虑、药物使用和心理创伤,进一步加剧了艾滋病毒在这一人群中的流行。内部仇视同性恋、歧视和抑郁导致年轻的 BMSM 自杀行为发生率升高,这反过来又可能影响他们参与 HIV 预防行为,如 HIV 检测。然而,对年轻 BMSM 自杀行为、内化的恐同心理、抑郁和 HIV 检测之间相互作用的研究还很有限。本研究利用综合理论,以 400 名 18-29 岁的年轻 BMSM 为样本,探讨了这些因素之间的关系。结果表明,在年轻的 BMSM 中,自杀行为的发生率令人震惊,内部化的同性恋恐惧症、抑郁症状、自杀行为和 HIV 检测之间存在显著关联。这些研究结果突出表明,针对年轻的 BMSM 所面临的独特挑战,迫切需要有针对性的心理健康干预措施和 HIV 预防服务。全面、多层次、以社区为中心的干预措施对于解决影响年轻 BMSM 的综合症、促进整体健康和福祉,同时改善整个 HIV 预防过程的结果至关重要。
期刊介绍:
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities reports on the scholarly progress of work to understand, address, and ultimately eliminate health disparities based on race and ethnicity. Efforts to explore underlying causes of health disparities and to describe interventions that have been undertaken to address racial and ethnic health disparities are featured. Promising studies that are ongoing or studies that have longer term data are welcome, as are studies that serve as lessons for best practices in eliminating health disparities. Original research, systematic reviews, and commentaries presenting the state-of-the-art thinking on problems centered on health disparities will be considered for publication. We particularly encourage review articles that generate innovative and testable ideas, and constructive discussions and/or critiques of health disparities.Because the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities receives a large number of submissions, about 30% of submissions to the Journal are sent out for full peer review.