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305150
Discrimination and mental health among Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual women: Evidence for triple jeopardy
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Ilan H. Meyer, Ph.D.
,
The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
Nicole M. Overstreet, Ph.D.
,
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Rahwa Haile, Ph.D.
,
Public Health Department, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY
Nathan B. Hansen, Ph.D.
,
College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Background: Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) women assume a triply marginalized social status in American society due to their race, gender, and sexual orientation. This “triple jeopardy” may increase their exposure to discrimination and risk for negative mental health outcomes as compared to social groups facing fewer forms of oppression. This hypothesis was tested by comparing Black LGB women to groups sharing two of three marginalized statuses: (a) White LGB women and (b) Black LGB men. Additionally, using the minority stress theoretical framework, dimensions of discrimination were tested and contrasted as mediators of the relationship between social status (race or gender) and mental health. Methods: 64 Black female, 67 White female, and 67 Black male LGB adults reported depressive symptoms, psychological wellbeing, social wellbeing, discrimination frequency (regularity of occurrences), discrimination scope (number of types of discriminatory acts experienced), and number of bases of discrimination (number of social statuses to which discrimination was attributed). Results: Compared with White LGB women, Black LGB women reported poorer psychological and social wellbeing and greater discrimination frequency, scope, and number of bases. Compared with Black LGB men, Black LGB women reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, poorer social wellbeing, and more discrimination bases. Among women, race indirectly affected mental health through discrimination frequency and scope, with a stronger effect via frequency. Among Blacks, gender indirectly affected mental health through number of bases of discrimination. Conclusions: Black LGB women experience triple jeopardy relative to groups facing fewer forms of oppressions.
Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe Black LGB women’s experiences of discrimination and mental health in comparison to social groups sharing only two of three marginalized characteristics: White LGB women and Black LGB men.
Assess and contrast three dimensions of discrimination as mediators of the relationship between social status and mental health.
Keyword(s): Minority Health, Health Disparities/Inequities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and have established a program of research focused on physical and mental health and health disparities among the Black LGB community.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
