Sexual Minority Stress & Mental Health

Sexual minority stress, along with aging-related stress, jeopardizes the mental health of midlife and older gay men, according to a new study published by the American Journal of Public Health. In the study, sexual minority stress included the men’s perceptions that they needed to conceal their sexual orientation or being avoided because of their sexual orientation.

The study also found that legal marriage for same-sex couples may confer a unique protective effect against poor mental health. Having a same-sex domestic partner or same-sex spouse boosted the emotional health of the studied men, but having a same-sex legal spouse appeared to be the most beneficial relationship arrangement.

“This study shines a light on the mental health of a generation of gay men who survived the early years of the AIDS crisis and came of age on the heels of the gay rights movement.”

The study’s findings further suggest that targeted campaigns may be necessary to address this generation of gay men’s heightened risk for poor mental health. Sexual orientation stigma, the loss of many of their peers to AIDS and general aging-related stress, such as concerns over finances and independence, also affected the mental health of these midlife and older gay men.

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For more information about this study, please see the American Journal of Public Health at:
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300384