Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Minority Stress Experiences and Psychological Well-Being: The Impact of Support from and Connection to Social Networks Within the Los Angeles House and Ball Communities

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

African American young men who have sex with men (AAYMSM) from the House and Ball communities are at high risk for HIV infection. Because these communities are not only sources of risk but also support for AAYMSM, researchers must also consider the resources these communities possess. This knowledge will assist in the formulation of more effective prevention strategies and intervention approaches. Using minority stress theory as a framework, the current study illustrates the impact minority stress has on the psychological well-being of a sample of MSM from the Los Angeles House and Ball communities and investigates how these factors affect the relationship between minority stress and psychological well-being. Surveys were administered to participants over the course of a year. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate a model of the associations between minority stressors, support, connection to social network, and psychological well-being/distress (N = 233). The results indicated significant associations between different sources of minority stress, including distal minority stress (e.g., racism, homophobia), gay identification, and internalized homophobia. Minority stressors were in turn significantly associated with greater distress. However, greater instrumental support significantly reduced the effects of distal minority stress on distress. Greater connection to social network also significantly reduced stress associated with gay identification on distress. The findings captured the diverse sources of minority stress faced by this population and how these stressors are interrelated to impact mental health. The results also illustrate how support from and connection to social networks can reduce the negative impact of minority stress experiences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold, E. A., & Bailey, M. M. (2009). Constructing home and family: How the ballroom community supports African American GLBTQ youth in the face of HIV/AIDS. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services: Issues in Practice, Policy & Research, 21, 171–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamini, Y. & Hochberg, Y. (1995). Controlling the false discovery rate: A practical and powerful approach to multiple testing. Journal of Royal Statistical Society, Series B, 57, 289–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, S. S., Dolcini, M. M., Harper, G. W., & Pollack, L. M. (2009). Supportive friendships moderate the association between stressful life events and sexual risk taking among African American adolescents. Health Psychology, 28, 238–248.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, D., & Harper, G. W. (2011). Operating without a safety net: Gay male adolescents and emerging adults’ experiences of marginalization and migration, and implications for theory of syndemic production of health disparities. Health Education and Behavior, 38, 367–378.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carballo-Dieguez, A., & Dolezal, C. (1995). Association between history of childhood sexual abuse and adult HIV-risk sexual behavior in Puerto Rican men who have sex with men. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19, 595–605.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clatts, M. C., Goldsamt, L. A., Yi, H., & Gwadz, M. V. (2005). Homelessness and drug abuse among young men who have sex with men in New York City: A preliminary epidemiological trajectory. Journal of Adolescence, 28, 201–214.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, N., Vanden Berghe, W., Dewaele, A., & Vincke, J. (2010). Acculturation strategies and mental health in gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 1199–1210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz, R. M. (1998). Latino gay men and HIV: Culture, sexuality, and risk behavior. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz, R. M., & Ayala, G. (2001). Social discrimination and health: The case of Latino gay men and HIV risk: The Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

  • Díaz, R. M., Ayala, G., Bein, E., Henne, J., & Marin, B. V. (2001). The impact of homophobia, poverty, and racism on the mental health of gay and bisexual Latino men: Findings from 3 US cities. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 927–932.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doty, N. D., Willoughby, B. L., Lindahl, K. M., & Malik, N. M. (2010). Sexuality related social support among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 1134–1147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dragowski, E. A., Halkitis, P. N., Grossman, A. H., & D’Augelli, A. R. (2011). Sexual orientation victimization and posttraumatic stress symptoms among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services: The Quarterly Journal of Community & Clinical Practice, 23, 226–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fields, S. D., Malebranche, D., & Feist-Price, S. (2008). Childhood sexual abuse in black men who have sex with men: Results from three qualitative studies. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 385–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, W., Weiss, G., Kipke, M. D., Ritt-Olson, A., Iverson, E., & Lopez, D. (2010). The healthy young men’s study: Sampling methods for enrolling a cohort of young men who have sex with men. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services: Issues in practice, policy and research., 21, 357–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2011). The social environment and suicide attempts in lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Pediatrics, 127, 896–903.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hightow-Weidman, L. B., Phillips, G., Jones, K. C., Outlaw, A. Y., Fields, S. D., & Smith, J. C. (2011). Racial and sexual identity-related maltreatment among minority YMSM: Prevalence, perceptions, and the association with emotional distress. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 25, S39–S45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kertzner, R. M., Meyer, I. H., Frost, D. M., & Stirratt, M. J. (2009). Social and psychological well-being in lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals: The effects of race, gender, age, and sexual identity. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79, 500–510.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kipke, M. D., Kubicek, K., Supan, J., Weiss, G., & Schrager, S. M. (2012). Laying the groundwork for an HIV prevention intervention: A descriptive profile of the Los Angeles House and Ball Communities. AIDS and Behavior. doi:10.1007/s10461-012-0227-9.

  • Kline, R. B. (2004). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubicek, K., McNeeley, M., Holloway, I. W., Weiss, G., & Kipke, M. D. (2012). “It’s like our own little world”: Resilience as a factor in participating in the Ballroom community subculture. AIDS and Behavior. doi:10.1007/s10461-012-0205-2.

  • Marks, G., Millett, G. A., Bingham, T. A., Bond, L., Lauby, J., Liau, A., et al. (2009). Understanding differences in HIV sexual transmission among Latino and Black men who have sex with men: The Brothers y Hermanos Study. AIDS and Behavior, 13, 682–690.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCallum, C., & McLaren, S. (2011). Sense of belonging and depressive symptoms among GLB adolescents. Journal of Homosexuality, 58, 83–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melchior, L. A., Huba, G. J., Brown, V. B., & Reback, C. J. (1993). A short depression index for women. Educational and psychological measurement. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 53, 1117–1125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674–697.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, I. H., Schwartz, S., & Frost, D. M. (2008). Social patterning of stress and coping: Does disadvantaged social status confer more stress and fewer coping resources? Social Science & Medicine, 67, 368–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murrill, C. S., Liu, K.-l., Guilin, V., Colón, E. R., Dean, L., Buckley, L. A., et al. (2008). HIV prevalence and associated risk behaviors in New York City’s house ball community. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 1074–1080.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mustanski, B. S., Garofalo, R., & Emerson, E. M. (2010). Mental health disorders, psychological distress, and suicidality in a diverse sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 2426–2432.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2011). Mplus user’s guide (6th Ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

  • Muthen, L. K., & Muthen, B. (2010). Growth modeling with latent variables using Mplus: Introductory and intermediate growth models, pp. 162–169. Retrieved from http://www.statmodel.com/download/Topic3-v.pdf. Accessed 12 March 2012.

  • Needham, B. L., & Austin, E. L. (2010). Sexual orientation, parental support, and health during the transition to young adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 1189–1198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, G., Peterson, J., Binson, D., Hidalgo, J., & Magnus, M. (2011). House/ball culture and adolescent African-American transgender persons and men who have sex with men: A synthesis of the literature. AIDS Care, 23, 515–520.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poteat, V. P., Mereish, E. H., DiGiovanni, C. D., & Koenig, B. W. (2011). The effects of general and homophobic victimization on adolescents’ psychosocial and educational concerns: The importance of intersecting identities and parent support. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 597–609.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. W., & Simon Rosser, B. R. (1996). Measurement and correlates of internalized homophobia: A factor analytic study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52, 15–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, C., Russell, S. T., Huebner, D., Diaz, R., & Sanchez, J. (2010). Family acceptance in adolescence and the health of LGBT young adults. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23, 205–213.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, T., Finlayson, T., Murrill, C., Guilin, V., & Dean, L. (2010). Risk behaviors and psychosocial stressors in the New York City house ball community: A comparison of men and transgender women who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 14, 351–358.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shilo, G., & Savaya, R. (2011). Effects of family and friend support on LGB youths’ mental health and sexual orientation milestones. Family Relations, 60, 318–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, S. M., & Patrick, J. H. (2009). Social support and personal mastery as protective resources during emerging adulthood. Journal of Adult Development, 16, 191–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, T. R., Stanley, R. L., & Thompson, D. (2000). HIV-related tuberculosis in a transgender network—Baltimore, Maryland, and New York City area, 1998–2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 49, 317–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, J. B., & Bentler, P. M. (2004). Structural equation modeling. In M. Hardy & A. Bryman (Eds.), Handbook of data analysis (pp. 431–458). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Washington, P. (2001). Who gets to drink from the fountain of freedom? Homophobia in communities of color. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services: Issues in Practice, Policy & Research, 13, 117–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, C. F., Weiss, G., Ayala, G., & Kipke, M. D. (2010). Harassment, discrimination, violence, and illicit drug use among YMSM. AIDS Education and Prevention, 22, 286–298.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, S. D., Shoptaw, S., Weiss, R. E., Munjas, B., & Gorbach, P. M. (2011). Predictors of unrecognized HIV infection among poor and ethnic men who have sex with men in Los Angeles. AIDS and Behavior, 15, 643–649.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (R01 DA22968). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the staff members who contributed to the collection, management, analysis and review of these data: Veronica Abernathy, Teela Davis, Deandre Ellison, Judith Grout, Cody Haight, Nefe Iredia, Tattiya Kliengklom, Katrina Kubicek, Sylvia Lambrechts, Donna Luebbe, Miles McNeeley, Griselda Monroy, Heather Reyes, Marcia Reyes, Luis Salazar, Milton Smith, Flor Vindel, and George Weiss. The authors would also like to acknowledge the insightful and practical commentary of the members of the P3 Advisory Board, the Mothers and Fathers from the House of Allure, House of Chanel, House of Ebony, House of Escada, House of Etro Galliano, House of Herrera, House of Garcon, House of Gotti, House of Lauren van Cartier, House of Mizarahi, House of Miyake Mugler, House of Revlon, House of Rodeo, and the House of Ultra Omni. We are especially grateful to all of the parents, leaders, and members of the Los Angeles House and Ball communities for their commitment and willingness to share their diverse and often profound personal experiences as well as welcoming us into a part of their lives.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Community, Health Outcomes and Intervention Research Program, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd. Mailstop #30, Los Angeles, 90027, CA, USA

    Carolyn F. Wong & Michele D. Kipke

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Carolyn F. Wong & Michele D. Kipke

  3. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sheree M. Schrager

  4. Department of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ian W. Holloway

  5. The Williams Institute, School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ilan H. Meyer

Authors
  1. Carolyn F. Wong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sheree M. Schrager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ian W. Holloway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ilan H. Meyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michele D. Kipke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolyn F. Wong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wong, C.F., Schrager, S.M., Holloway, I.W. et al. Minority Stress Experiences and Psychological Well-Being: The Impact of Support from and Connection to Social Networks Within the Los Angeles House and Ball Communities. Prev Sci 15, 44–55 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0348-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0348-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation