Harassment, Discrimination, Violence, and Illicit Drug Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Abstract

We examined the relationship between social discrimination, violence, and illicit drug use among an ethnically diverse cohort of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) residing in Los Angeles. 526 YMSM (ages 18-24 years) were recruited using a venue-based, stratified probability sampling design. Surveys assessed childhood financial hardship, violence (physical assault, sexual assault, intimate partner violence), social discrimination (homophobia and racism), and illicit drug use in the past 3 months. Analyses examined main and interaction effects of key variables on drug use. Experiences of financial hardship, physical intimate partner violence and homophobia predicted drug use. Although African American participants were less likely to report drug use than their Caucasian peers, those who experienced greater sexual racism were at significantly greater risk for drug use. Racial/ethnic minority YMSM were at increased risk for experiencing various forms of social discrimination and violence that place them at increased risk for drug use.

Modeling Minority Stress Effects on Homelessness and Health Disparities among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…Previous research has documented elevated substance use as a coping response to past negative life events and street-survival among both marginally housed YMSM, 10 although our results suggest that ever being kicked out of one's home is a significantly larger predictor of daily marijuana use than past-year homelessness. Substance use among YMSM has also been shown to be associated with experiencing dimensions of minority stress, 27,28 and being kicked out of one's home has been associated with a range of negative health outcomes among sexual minority youth. 32 Significantly, depression was not directly linked to being kicked out of one's home in our sample, as has been reported in other studies.…”

“…20,21 Dimensions of minority stress, including experiencing and internalizing stigma due to sexual orientation, have been shown to have significant associations with negative health outcomes among adult gay and bisexual men, [21][22][23][24] sexual minority youth, 25 and in particular among young males who have sex with men (YMSM). [26][27][28] High rates of depression, substance use, and HIV/AIDS among groups of adult gay men have also been theorized to arise from negative childhood or adolescent experiences associated with their emergent samesex identities in heterosexist environments. 29 In general, sexual minority adolescents report negative health disparities compared to heterosexual adolescents due to increased risk of experiencing minority stress-related stressors, including bullying, verbal abuse, violence, and social marginalization.…”

Psychosocial Support for Youth Living With HIV

“…Nearly 75% and 46% of the 12 200 new HIV infections in youth were attributable to males having sex with males and African American adolescents and young adults, respectively. 4 Stigma, discrimination, 5 infrequent condom use, alcohol and drug use, and having sex with older partners 6 contributed to an even higher risk for acquiring HIV infection, disproportionately affecting minority youth residing in the south and the northeastern United States. An estimated 60% of individuals were unaware of their underlying HIV infection.…”

Anxiety and depression symptoms in Brazilian sexual minority ecstasy and LSD users

“…Other studies assessing mental health status among nonheterosexuals revealed that anxiety, depression and relationship issues are the most frequent complaints at consultations in the public mental health system. 7,26,27 This suggests that the perceived discrimination faced by sexual minority subgroups acts as a social stressor in mental health problems. 20,28 Our non-heterosexual participants reported more depressive symptoms over the past 12 months and showed a significantly higher result for compulsive behaviors and intrusive thoughts.…”

“…Diaz et al 29 Clinically, anxiety and depression are often associated with the use of alcohol and drugs as a meaning of self-medication 31 and as a relief for 20,26 which limits the possibility of comparing prevalence rates of use of multiple substances.…”