Internalized homophobia, AIDS stigma, and psychological distress in Black men who have sex with men

Background: Gay men are subject to stress due to their stigmatization within the heterosexist societies in which they live. Gay men may be especially susceptible to stigma about AIDS, especially if they are themselves HIV-positive. In addition, gay men face internalized homophobia, or self-directed negative attitudes. Studies have linked internalized homophobia with psychological distress. The purpose of this study was to investigate these possible associations in a community sample of young Black gay men.

Methods: Data were collected from a sample of 227 young Black gay and bisexual men living in New York. Participants were recruited from community venues and online websites. Participants completed a survey that measured basic demographic information, internalized homophobia, stigmatized perceptions about AIDS, and psychological distress. Linear regression analysis was used to determine whether there are existing associations between psychological distress, AIDS stigma and internalized homophobia.

Results: Internalized homophobia was associated with depressive distress, anxiety, more somatization of psychological distress, and interpersonal sensitivity. AIDS-related stigma was associated with higher rates of psychological distress, but only for men who were HIV+. For HIV- men, higher levels of AIDS-related stigma were associated with lower interpersonal sensitivity symptoms.

Conclusion: Internalized homophobia and AIDS stigma in Black gay men can have a significant impact on their mental health. These factors need to be accounted for when designing interventions and programs for Black gay men. Further investigation should be conducted on strategies to mitigate the effects of internalized homophobia and AIDS stigma on mental health, particularly in young Black HIV+ men.