Gay Young Adults Research Articles

Timing of a First Romantic Union Among Sexual Minority Young Adults

Cohabitation and marriage are critical milestones during the transition to adulthood; however, there is limited research on the timing of young adults’ first same-sex unions. There is some evidence that same-sex unions may be delayed, particularly for men. Further, formation of both same- and different-sex dating relationships, common among sexual minority young adults, may also extend to cohabitation and marriage. We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to predict the timing of a first romantic union, defined as a cohabitation or marriage, among sexual minority young adults. We then distinguished between women and men and the timing of a different-sex versus a same-sex union. Compared with heterosexual young adults, lesbian and gay young adults entered a union at later ages (driven by men), whereas bisexual young adults entered a union at younger ages (driven by women). Lesbian and gay young adults who entered a first union with a same-sex partner did so at later ages than those who entered a first union with a different-sex partner. Results suggest that patterns of sexual minority dating relationship formation might extend to unions.

The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem on the Association Between Minority Stress and Social Well-Being Among Indonesian Young Adult Gay Men and Lesbian Women

This study explores the correlation between minority stress, self-esteem, and social well-being among young adult gay men and lesbian women in Indonesia, by analyzing the mediating role of self-esteem on the correlation between minority stress and social well-being. Design utilized in this study is correlational design with mediation analysis. This study draws on a sample of 437 gay men and lesbian women (Mage = 24). The authors employed Spearman’s correlation and mediation analysis on the three measurement instruments. Results showed that all the measurement instruments correlated with each other significantly. Specifically, minority stress reduces self-esteem and in turn it will also lower the social well-being among young adult gay men and lesbian women in Indonesia. Moreover, the result also indicated that self-esteem have a partial mediating role on the relationship between minority stress and social well-being among young adult gay men and lesbian women. From the result of this study, it can be concluded that self-esteem is an important protective factor on gay men and lesbian women’s self-esteem. Therefore, the authors endorse a cultural shift to reduce minority stress among gay men and lesbian women in Indonesia. Additionally, organizations or mental health professionals may utilize self-esteem and social well-being as a mean for enhancing the mental health of Indonesian gay men and lesbian women.
 
 Studi ini mengeksplorasi korelasi antara minority stress, self-esteem, dan kesejahteraan sosial di kalangan laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian dewasa muda di Indonesia, dengan menganalisis peran mediasi self-esteem terhadap korelasi antara minority stress dan kesejahteraan sosial. Desain yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah desain korelasional dengan analisis mediasi. Studi ini memiliki sampel 437 laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian (Mage = 24). Penulis menggunakan korelasi Spearman dan analisis mediasi dengan ketiga instrumen pengukuran. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa seluruh instrumen pengukuran berkorelasi satu sama lain secara signifikan. Secara spesifik, minority stress menurunkan self-esteem dan hal ini berakibat pada penurunan kesejahteraan sosial di kalangan laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian dewasa muda di Indonesia. Selain itu, hasil studi juga menunjukkan bahwa self-esteem memiliki peran mediasi parsial pada hubungan antara minority stress dan kesejahteraan sosial di kalangan laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian dewasa muda. Dari hasil studi ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa self-esteem merupakan faktor pelindung yang penting terhadap self-esteem laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian. Maka dari itu, penulis mendukung perubahan budaya untuk mengurangi minority stress di kalangan laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian di Indonesia. Selain itu, organisasi atau layanan profesional kesehatan mental dapat memanfaatkan self-esteem dan kesejahteraan sosial sebagai sarana untuk meningkatkan kesehatan mental laki-laki gay dan perempuan lesbian di Indonesia.

The Use of Daily and On-Demand Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Dosing Strategies Among Young Adult Gay, Bisexual and Other Men who have Sex with Men Enrolled in an mHealth Adherence Intervention.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective HIV prevention option for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). However, with newer PrEP options, a greater understanding of whether and why GBMSM switch dosing strategies is needed to inform clinical practice and research. We assessed the dosing strategies (daily or on-demand) of GBMSM enrolled in an mHealth PrEP adherence pilot intervention at four timepoints over approximately 10 months. Among GBMSM with complete data (n = 66), a consistent daily dosing strategy was used by most (73%) participants across all time points, while on-demand PrEP was used at least once during the study period by 27% of participants. A higher percentage of on-demand PrEP users self-reported as Asian/Pacific Islander and had less positive attitudes toward PrEP, adjusting for key sociodemographic variables and intervention arm. Daily PrEP users reported high numbers of sexual partners, and the primary reason that they would switch to on-demand PrEP is reduced sexual activity. At the final assessment, 75% of participants were taking daily PrEP, of whom 27% reported that they would like to switch to another option, including on-demand and long-acting injectable PrEP. While findings were largely descriptive, they showed that switches in PrEP dosing strategies are relatively common and PrEP strategy choice may vary across racial and ethnic groups.

The Roles of Gender and Sexual Orientation in Predicting Reactions to Suitors: Revealing Intersectional Complexities

ABSTRACT Relatively little is known about how gender and sexual orientation intersect to predict young adults’ responses to unwanted romantic and sexual overtures from men and women suitors. To better understand these potential differences, and explore possible mechanisms that explain them, this pre-registered study used an online questionnaire to assess reactions to both hypothetical and recalled suitors among a sample of 855 cisgender heterosexual and gay young adults (18–35) from the United States. Results revealed that gay women and heterosexual men reported the most negative hypothetical reactions to men (versus women) suitors, while gay women, heterosexual men, and heterosexual women all recalled more negative reactions to men than women suitors. Gay men recalled relatively benign reactions to suitors of both genders. A desire to be seen as one’s true orientation was a mediating factor for both gay women’s and heterosexual men’s negative reactions to men suitors. These findings and their potential explanations highlight the complexity of how gender and sexual orientation intersect to shape responses to romantic and sexual overtures from men and women suitors.

Promoting Sexual Health Knowledge through a Social Workers' Mentorship Programme: A Study of Gay Young Adults.

Mentorship of counselling for men who have sex with other men and gay youths is understudied. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of how the Mentor Modelling Programme may increase the sexual health knowledge and practices of gay youths. As an expansion of a previous study with the application of the conceptual framework, this study mapped a sexual health promotion plan and the six-month-long Mentor Modelling Programme with the coordination of eight health and social care professionals and 40 gay youths. The researcher found positive and supportive feedback of how the Mentor Modelling Programme could increase sexual health knowledge, promote long-term relationships, and encourage referral of other vulnerable people. The results indicated two directions. The first solicited the perspectives of health and social care professionals and gay youths on how they would describe the relationship, application to, and experience of the Mentor Modelling Programme and second, assessed how this Mentor Modelling Programme influenced and changed the ideas and senses about counselling services and mentorship. This study reflected the current limited sexual promotion between traditional and inclusive sexual health materials. It further indicated the necessary concerns and areas of attention needed to upgrade the materials and host inclusive sexual health materials for both youths and adults in the communities.

Healthcare usage and satisfaction among young adult gay men in New York city

Satisfaction greatly impacts decisions about where and how to access healthcare. This cross-sectional study uses data gathered from young adult gay men in New York City. Findings indicate that participants who experienced discrimination in a healthcare setting were less likely to prefer coordinated healthcare. Participants who disclosed their sexual orientation and were comfortable discussing sexual activity with their provider were more likely to agree that their healthcare needs were adequately addressed. The healthcare system does not fully address the healthcare needs of gay men. Preferences for coordination of care, nondisclosure of sexual orientation, and low levels of satisfaction with services further discourage healthcare usage among this population.

5. Predictors of Prep Awareness in Adolescent and Young Adult Gay, Bisexual, and Other MSM in Baltimore

5. Predictors of Prep Awareness in Adolescent and Young Adult Gay, Bisexual, and Other MSM in Baltimore

성인기 초기 남성 동성애자의 성적 지향성 인지와 커밍아웃 경험

This study aims to analyze the recognition of sexual orientations and to find out the coming out experience of sexual minorities who are at the center of social issues and controversies today. With the participation from six young adult gay men, three in-depth interview sessions were conducted from November 2015 until May 2017. The hermeneutical grounded theory methodology, as one of the qualitative research methods, was employed to analyze the gathered interview data and to select the 31 meanings, 8 categories and 4 topics. The results indicated that as time progressed, the recognition of sexual orientations, denials, and acceptances were precedent before the coming of the closet by the gay men. In addition, during the experiences of coming out of the closet, the family of the participants tended to deny the homosexual orientation of the participants while abusive language and violence from the family often existed. These negative responses from the family triggered low self-esteem, depression and helplessness of the gay men. Findings also indicated that more attention from the family science field, academia and field practices is required to be addressed on homosexuals and their families, while a brisk discussion on introducing institutional frameworks is critical for the protection of the human rights of sexual minorities.

The voice of Indonesian gay men who want to have heterosexual orientation

Some homosexuals have a strong desire to change their sexual orientation to a heterosexual one. This study attempted to understand the Indonesian gay men's motivations to change their sexual orientation. Using a qualitative study desain and a snowball sampling approach, we carried out in-depth interviews with six young adult gay men living in two main cities in Indonesia. We identified three major themes: (1) motivations to change sexual orientation, (2) strategies to change sexual orientation, and (3) internal and external factors related to sexual orientation change. This study recommends a comprehensive support from mental health services to help individuals address the sexual orientation matters.

Access to Health Services Among Young Adult Gay Men in New York City

This research is a cross-sectional study of young adult gay men (YAGM), ages 18 to 29, that aims to understand their health-care access including: having a primary care provider (PCP), frequency of health-care visits, and instances of foregone health care. Surveys were conducted with a modified time-space sample of 800 YAGM in New York City (NYC). Surveys were conducted between November 2015 and June 2016. This study examined associations between sociodemographic characteristics and health-care access using multivariable logistic regression models. In multivariable logistic regression models, there were higher odds of having a PCP among participants enrolled in school (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.85, 95% CI [1.18, 2.91], p < .01) and covered by insurance (AOR = 21.29, 95% CI [11.77, 38.53], p < .001). Modeling indicated higher odds of more than one health visit in the past 12 months for non-White participants (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI [1.43, 3.63], p < .001), those covered by insurance (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI [1.06, 9.04], p < .05), and those who disclosed their sexual orientation to their PCP (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI [1.58, 5.69], p < .001). Participants with insurance were less likely to report instances of foregone care (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI [0.21, 0.13], p < .001). Understanding the facilitators and barriers to health-care access among YAGM populations is of critical importance, as many YAGM between the ages of 18 and 29 are establishing their access to health care without parental guidance. Health-care access, including the decision to forego care, can represent a missed opportunity for primary prevention and early diagnosis of health issues, as well as more effective, less invasive, and less costly treatments.

Motivations for alcohol use to intoxication among young adult gay, bisexual, and other MSM in New York City: The P18 Cohort Study

IntroductionMotivations for alcohol use to intoxication vary among young adults depending on social setting and other contextual factors. However, there is limited research exploring the role of different drinking motivations among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). MethodsData from a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of YMSM (n = 426) were used to examine associations between recent (last 30 days) alcohol use to intoxication and scores on three distinct drinking motivation subscales: convivial, intimate, and negative coping drinking. Multinomial logistic regression models were constructed to examine associations between drinking motivations and days of alcohol use to intoxication, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. ResultsYMSM who scored higher on all three drinking motivation subscales were more likely to engage in recent alcohol use to intoxication compared to those who reported no alcohol use to intoxication. In multivariable models, Black and Hispanic YMSM had lower odds of intoxication compared to White YMSM, and those reporting lower perceived familial SES had lower odds compared to higher SES. In a final model including all three motivations, only convivial drinking was significantly associated with days of intoxication (1–2 days: AOR = 1.22; 3+ days: AOR = 1.45). ConclusionsThis study identifies distinct associations between different motivations for drinking and alcohol use to intoxication in a sample of YMSM. These findings highlight a need to incorporate an understanding of motivations for alcohol use to intoxication into research and clinical practice with YMSM, as different reasons for drinking carry respective potential health risks.

A Qualitative Investigation of Healthcare Engagement Among Young Adult Gay Men in New York City: A P18 Cohort Substudy.

We used in-depth interviews with a cohort of young adult gay men (YAGM) to provide a more detailed understanding of their current healthcare engagement, including experiences with the healthcare system, provider knowledge of healthcare needs, and desired provider characteristics. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 40 YAGM in New York City. The interview guide examined healthcare engagement across key developmental stages: childhood (birth-12), adolescence (13-18), young adulthood (19-22), and the present (23-26). All transcripts were coded using a consensual qualitative research approach to identify crosscutting topics. The interviews were conducted between September and October 2015. The following topics were identified: experiences with the healthcare system, provider knowledge of healthcare needs, and desired provider characteristics. Common barriers to healthcare access were financial concerns, lack of insurance, and dissatisfaction with the care provided. Reasons for dissatisfaction with care were based on perceptions of providers' anti-gay attitudes, judgment of same-sex sexual behavior, and lack of provider knowledge about YAGM's health needs. This often led men in this study to seek sexual healthcare from providers other than their primary care provider. When asked about desired provider characteristics, participants noted that basic demographics were of less importance than skills-based characteristics such as rapport, comfort discussing sexual health issues, and knowledge of YAGM's health. YAGM have unique challenges to engaging in healthcare, including provider stigma and lack of provider knowledge of YAGM's health needs, which are not faced by other young adult populations. The results from this study highlight the need for more extensive and standardized training in medical school and as part of continuing medical education for healthcare providers.

Young adult gay and bisexual men's stigma experiences and mental health: An 8-year longitudinal study.

This study investigated longitudinal trajectories of stigma (i.e., enacted, anticipated, internalized, concealed); stress-sensitive mental health disorder symptoms (i.e., depression, social anxiety); and their associations across 8 annual assessments in a sample of 128 young gay and bisexual U.S. university students. All forms of stigma significantly decreased over time, while depressive symptoms remained stable and social anxiety symptoms significantly increased. Men from higher socioeconomic backgrounds experienced quicker reductions in anticipated stigma, compared to men from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. More self-described feminine men experienced quicker reductions in concealment, compared to more self-described masculine men. Enacted stigma demonstrated contemporaneous associations with depression and social anxiety across 8 years; and anticipated stigma and internalized stigma demonstrated contemporaneous associations with social anxiety across 8 years. Enacted stigma was more strongly associated with depressive symptoms among men who reported greater masculinity compared to those who reported greater femininity. Findings are discussed in terms of common developmental influences across early sexual orientation identity formation, including gay and bisexual young men's resilience to stigma-based stress; the transition from college; and the rapidly changing social climate surrounding sexual minority individuals. Findings suggest the need for future longitudinal examinations of stigma and mental health among sexual minorities that utilize multiple age cohorts to determine the relative contribution of cohort-specific versus common maturational factors influencing the mental health of this population. (PsycINFO Database Record

Outsmart HPV: Acceptability and short-term effects of a web-based HPV vaccination intervention for young adult gay and bisexual men

BackgroundEffective interventions to promote human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination are needed, particularly among populations at increased risk of HPV-related disease. We developed and pilot tested a web-based intervention, Outsmart HPV, to promote HPV vaccination among young gay and bisexual men (YGBM). MethodsIn 2016, we recruited a national sample (n = 150) of YGBM ages 18–25 in the United States who had not received any doses of HPV vaccine. Participants were randomized to receive either standard HPV vaccination information (control) or population-targeted, individually-tailored content (Outsmart HPV intervention). We assessed between group differences in HPV vaccination attitudes and beliefs immediately following the intervention using multiple linear regression. ResultsThere were no differences in HPV vaccination attitudes, beliefs and intentions between groups at baseline. Compared to participants in the control group, intervention participants reported: greater perception that men who have sex with men are at higher risk for anal cancer relative to other men (b = 0.34); greater HPV vaccination self-efficacy (b = 0.15); and fewer perceived harms of HPV vaccine (b = −0.34) on posttest surveys (all p < .05). Overall, intervention participants reported high levels of acceptability and satisfaction with the Outsmart HPV intervention (all > 4.4 on a 5-point scale). ConclusionsFindings from this study provide preliminary support for a brief, tailored web-based intervention in improving HPV vaccination attitudes and beliefs among YGBM. An important next step is to determine the effects of Outsmart HPV on HPV vaccine uptake. Clinical trials registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02835755.

Who Counts as Family? Family Typologies, Family Support, and Family Undermining Among Young Adult Gay and Bisexual Men

Gay and bisexual men may form chosen families in addition to or in place of families of origin. However, the characteristics of these diverse families remain largely unexamined in the quantitative literature. The purpose of this study was to develop a family typology based on responses from a racially and ethnically diverse sample of young adult gay and bisexual men (YGBM) recruited from the Detroit Metropolitan Area (N=350; 18-29 years old). To explore the role of family, we then examined family social support and social undermining in relation to YGBM psychological distress within different family types. A series of multivariate regressions were used to examine associations between family social support and social undermining with depression and anxiety outcomes. The majority (88%) of YGBM included family of origin in their definitions of family and 63% indicated having chosen families. Associations between family social processes and psychological outcomes varied by type of family, suggesting that family composition shapes how perceptions of support and undermining relate to experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Chosen families play a prominent role in the lives of YGBM and should not be overlooked in family research. Findings also highlight the importance of examining co-occurring family social support and social stress processes to further address psychological distress symptoms among YGBM.

Breakup-related appraisals and the psychological well-being of young adult gay and bisexual men

ABSTRACTParticipation in romantic relationships during adolescence and young adulthood provides opportunities to explore one's sexuality, yet may also cause distress once these relationships dissolve. Although researchers have asserted that participation in same-sex relationships may be beneficial for young gay and bisexual men's (YGBM) psychosocial well-being, less is known about YGBM appraisals of breakups after participating in same-sex relationships. We examined the association between self-reported psychological well-being (e.g., symptoms of depression and anxiety, self-esteem, sense of personal competency) and YGBM's negative and positive appraisals of breakups within a sample of single YGBM (N = 1,040; ages 18–24) who reported prior serious same-sex relationships. Negative appraisals were associated with lower psychological well-being. Positive appraisals were associated with greater anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, and sense of personal competency. Our findings highlight the need to acknowledge how YGBM's differential responses to breakups may be associated with their psychological well-being.

Is It Facebook Official? Coming Out and Passing Strategies of Young Adult Gay Men on Social Media

ABSTRACTThe rapid proliferation of social media, mobile applications, and Internet technologies has shifted a wide variety of social interaction from physical spaces to an online environment. Drawing from 42 semistructured, in-depth interviews with gay college-aged men between the ages of 18 and 27, this article explores these changing patterns of social interaction among gay men. I discuss three strategies of identity management college-aged gay men use to disclose or conceal their sexual identity to others. The first group of men, “Out and Proud,” uses Facebook as a way to celebrate and reaffirm their sexual identity, in addition to actively coming out to others on the social media Web site. The second group, “Out and Discreet,” uses Facebook to indirectly come out to some of their friends while hiding this information from others. The men in the last group I identify, “Facebook Closeted,” actively manage their online profiles to ensure their sexual identity is not exposed. Facebook is both transformative and risky for college-aged gay men, as it represents a new platform for them to come out as gay to friends and family, as well as other areas of their lives where they must actively manage the presentation of their sexual identity.

The moderating role of internalized homonegativity on the efficacy of LGB-affirmative psychotherapy: Results from a randomized controlled trial with young adult gay and bisexual men.

As empirical evidence for the effectiveness of LGB-affirmative psychotherapy emerges, the question of whether some clients may derive greater benefit than others becomes important. The current study investigated whether internalized homonegativity (IH), both explicit and implicit, moderated the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to improve the mental and sexual health of young gay and bisexual men through facilitating minority stress coping. At baseline, young gay and bisexual men (n = 54) experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety completed measures of explicit and implicit IH. Participants also completed self-reports of mental health and an interviewer-based assessment of past-90-day risk behavior before and after treatment in a 10-session individual LGB-affirmative intervention. Moderation analyses showed that participants higher in implicit IH experienced greater reductions in depression (b = -2.99, p = .031, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-5.69, -0.29]), anxiety (b = -3.56, p = .014, 95% CI [-6.35, -0.76]), and past-90-day condomless anal sex with casual partners (b = -1.29, p = .028, 95% CI [-2.44, -0.14]). Participants higher in explicit IH experienced greater reductions in past-90-day heavy drinking (b = -0.42, p = .003, 95% CI [-0.69, -0.15]). These findings indicate that greater gains from LGB-affirmative psychotherapy were observed in gay and bisexual men who were higher in IH, particularly when measured implicitly. As the first study that examines factors moderating the efficacy of LGB-affirmative psychotherapy, the present research has important implications for intervention development and highlights the value of incorporating implicit measures into clinical work. (PsycINFO Database Record

New to New York: Ecological and Psychological Predictors of Health Among Recently Arrived Young Adult Gay and Bisexual Urban Migrants.

Young gay and bisexual men might move to urban enclaves to escape homophobic environments and achieve greater sexual and social freedom, yet little is known about the health risks that these young migrants face. Drawing on recent qualitative depictions of gay and bisexual men's urban ecologies and psychological research on motivation and goal pursuit, we investigated migration-related motivations, experiences, health risks, and their associations among young gay and bisexual men in New York City. Gay and bisexual men (n = 273; ages 18-29) who had moved to New York City within the past 12months completed an online survey regarding their hometowns, new urban experiences, migration motivations, and health risks. Not having a college degree, HIV infection, hometown stigma, within-US migration, and moving to outside a gay-dense neighborhood were associated with moving to escape stress; hometown structural stigma and domestic migration were associated with moving for opportunity. Migrating from larger US-based hometowns, having recently arrived, and moving for opportunity predicted HIV transmission risk. Social isolation predicted lower drug use but more mental health problems. Higher income predicted lower HIV and mental health risk but higher alcohol risk. Hometown interpersonal discrimination predicted all health risks, but hometown structural stigma protected against drug risk. Findings offer a comprehensive picture of young gay and bisexual male migrants' experiences and health risks and help build a theory of high-risk migration. Results can inform structural- and individual-level interventions to support the health of this sizeable and vulnerable segment of the urban population.

Impact of Mentors During Adolescence on Outcomes Among Gay Young Adults

ABSTRACTUsing the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and the Adolescent Health and Academic Achievement study datasets, this study examined whether natural mentoring relationships during adolescence were associated with young adult outcomes among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons. Outcomes in three domains were investigated: education and employment, psychological wellbeing, and substance use and abuse. Results indicated that LGB persons reporting natural mentors during adolescence were about three times as likely to graduate from high school as those without. Discussion surrounds strategies to foster mentoring relationships within the school environment or community.