The Role of Psychological Flexibility as a Mediator Between Experienced Sexual Racism and Psychological Distress Among Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men

Are Black Sexual Minority Adults More Likely to Report Higher Levels of Psychological Distress than White Sexual Minority Adults? Findings from the 2013–2017 National Health Interview Survey

“…In contrast, the intersectionality framework was not supported with the finding of a racial non-difference in psychological distress among sexual minority adults. The intersectionality framework has been supported by recent studies on REM sexual minorities that have identified unique stressors that affect Black sexual minority adults such as discrimination experiences and social rejection (Bhambhani et al 2018;Bostwick et al 2018;Calabrese et al 2015). The identified stressors in studies on REM sexual minorities can inform mental health practitioners of evidence-based risk factors that affect Black sexual minority adults.…”

“…On the other hand, using the intersectionality framework, many studies show that REM sexual minorities are more likely to experience stressors associated with their racial minority status compared to White sexual minorities. Those racial minority status stressors include discrimination experiences (Calabrese et al 2015), sexual racism (Bhambhani et al 2018), and victimization (Bostwick et al 2018). Yet, in many of those studies, there was no difference in psychological distress between REM sexual minorities and White sexual minorities.…”

A longitudinal investigation of racial discrimination, distress intolerance, and psychological well‐being in African American college students

“…Second, our study did not take into account intersectional forms of oppression that may be experienced by African American college students with multiple marginalized identities. For example, African American women experience unique stressors at the intersection of race and gender that have been associated with trauma symptoms (Moody & Lewis, 2019), and African American men who have sex with men experience unique stressors at the intersection of race and sexual orientation that have been associated with increased psychological distress (Bhambhani, Flynn, Kellum, & Wilson, 2018). Future studies should examine how subpopulations within the African American community experience intersectional forms of oppression, using measures that appropriately assess those experiences.…”

The mediating role of personalized psychological flexibility in the association between distress intolerance and psychological distress: A national survey during the fourth waves of COVID‐19 pandemic in Iran

“…Dawson and Golijani‐Moghaddam ( 2020 ) found a negative association between psychological flexibility and distress; which comprises depression, anxiety, and COVID‐19 related distress and worry. According to the findings by Bhambhani et al ( 2020 ) psychological flexibility mediated the relation between experiencing sexual racism and depression, anxiety, and stress (i.e., psychological distress) after controlling for demographic characteristics. More recent studies by Kashdan et al ( 2020 ) and Akbari, Disabato, et al ( 2021 ) found a negative association between personalized psychological flexibility and distress intolerance.…”