Exploring the Mental Health of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Absract Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Community mental health journal 2009-08, Vol.45 (4), p.272-284
Main Authors: Graham, Louis F., Braithwaite, Kisha, Spikes, Pilgrim, Stephens, Charles F., Edu, Ugo F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
African Americans
African Americans - psychology
Anxiety
Anxiety - epidemiology
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Attitudes
Biological and medical sciences
Black people
Community and Environmental Psychology
Depression
Depression - epidemiology
Focus Groups
Gays & lesbians
Georgia - epidemiology
Heterosexuals
Homosexuality, Male - psychology
Homosexuals
Humans
Identity formation
Male
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Men
Mental depression
Mental disorders
Mental health
Mental health care
Middle Aged
Minority & ethnic groups
Miscellaneous
Mood disorders
Original Paper
Psychiatry
Psychological distress
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Public health
Racial identity
Social exclusion
Stigma
Young Adult
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Summary:Absract Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the mental health status of this population in an attempt to shed light on potential influencing and determinant factors. Twenty-two self-identified black, or multi-racial including black, MSM residing in Atlanta, Georgia participated in two focus groups—11 subjects each, respectively. Categories that emerged from data analysis include: knowledge/experiences, attitudes/beliefs, societal action/behavior, identity development, relationship functionality, and mental health status. Overarching themes for each category were delineated.
ISSN:0010-3853
1573-2789
DOI:10.1007/s10597-009-9186-7