The Relationship of Internalized Homonegativity to Sexual Health and Well-Being Among Men in 38 European Countries Who Have Sex With Men

Rigmor C. Berg, Peter Weatherburn, Michael W. Ross, Axel J. Schmidt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this article is to examine internalized homonegativity (IH) in relation to aspects of well-being and several measures of clinical importance among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in 38 countries. The data were collected as part of the EMIS project. The multivariable regression analysis identified independent associations with IH for nongay identity, younger age, being closeted, limited gay social affiliation, and sexual unhappiness. IH was also positively associated with loneliness, inability to decline unwanted sex, and being less knowledgeable about HIV and HIV testing. These results provide evidence that homonegative internalization merits consideration as a predisposing factor in several aspects of ill health. There are also several clinical implications of this project, including: (1) Treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons should address gay self-acceptance, as internalized homonegativity seems to be a predisposing factor in several aspects of ill health among this population, and (2) therapy that is used to help LGB persons accept and integrate a gay or lesbian identity seems particularly important for younger, nongay identified persons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)285-302
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 3 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, © Rigmor C. Berg, Peter Weatherburn, Michael W. Ross, and Axel J. Schmidt. Published with license by Taylor & Francis.

Keywords

  • HIV
  • health-care needs
  • internalized homonegativity
  • mental health

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