Intersecting Structural Oppression and Suicidality Among Black Sexual Minority Male Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Journal

Journal of research on adolescence : the official journal of the Society for Research on Adolescence

Volume

32

Issue

1

DOI

10.1111/jora.12726

Keywords

Black sexual minority youth; anti-LGBTQ policies; health inequities; intersectional stigma; minority stress; structural racism; suicidality; suicide risk

Abstract

This study examined associations between structural racism, anti-LGBTQ policies, and suicide risk among young sexual minority men (SMM). Participants were a 2017-2018 Internet-based U.S. national sample of 497 Black and 1536 White SMM (ages 16-25). Structural equation modeling tested associations from indicators of structural racism, anti-LGBTQ policies, and their interaction to suicide risk factors. For Black participants, structural racism and anti-LGBTQ policies were significantly positively associated with depressive symptoms, heavy drinking, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, self-harm, and suicide attempt. There were significant interaction effects: Positive associations between structural racism and several outcomes were stronger for Black participants in high anti-LGBTQ policy states. Structural racism, anti-LGBTQ policies, and their interaction were not significantly associated with suicide risk for White SMM.

Department

Epidemiology

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