Masculine Threat and Stigma: Barriers to Help-Seeking for Gay and Bisexual Men Survivors

Kanefsky R.Z., Newins A.R., Necaise A.

Tubman J.G., Lee J., Moore C.

This cross-sectional study documented between-group differences in risk factors associated with sexual victimization histories in an ethnically and racially diverse sample of transgender emerging adults ( N = 248, ageM = 22.61 years). The sample was recruited using the Internet-based CloudResearch platform to answer questionnaires assessing predictors for recent experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants were categorized into four groups based on cross-classified self-reports of child sexual abuse (CSA) and recent sexual IPV, prior to the use of multivariate analysis of variance to evaluate mean score differences for past-year substance use, minority stressor, and relationship functioning variables. Participants reporting sexual IPV reported higher scores for all substance use variables, while transfeminine participants reported significantly higher scores for alcohol use problems and negative consequences related to substance use. Participants reporting both CSA and sexual IPV also reported the highest scores for everyday discrimination. Participants who experienced sexual IPV also reported the highest scores for internalized sexual stigma. Sexual revictimization among transgender adults occurs in the context of harmful patterns of substance use and several minority stressors. Our findings have implications for healthcare or counseling services for transgender emerging adults who have experienced multiple forms of victimization, substance use problems, and minority stressors, including the importance of trauma-informed and integrated intervention services, and specialized training for service providers.

PettyJohn M.E., Reid T.A., Cary K.M., Greer K.M., Nason J.A., Agundez J.C., Graves C., McCauley H.L.

Harris M.P., Mahalik J.R.

Harris M.P., Mahalik J.R.

Ellis A.E., Martino S., Simiola V., Bellamy C., O’Connell M., Cook J.M.

Parent M.C., Johnson N.L., Taylor Z.

Vidales C.A., Vogel D.L., Levant R.F.

Anders C., Stuart-Maver S.L., Hong J.E., Amos E.

Todd K.P., Thornburgh S., Pitter R., Gamarel K.E., Peitzmeier S.

Masculinity is a driving factor in health behaviors of cisgender men; however, there is little research about conceptualizations of masculinity and their impact on health behaviors among transmasculine populations. This study sought to construct a theoretical framework for masculine identity development in transmasculine individuals in the United States, and the impact this process has on their health behaviors, specifically alcohol and tobacco use. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted as part of the Masculinity and Self-Conceptualization Study (MASCS). We analyzed the data using grounded theory. Transmasculine individuals iteratively drafted, questioned, and revised their masculinity. Alcohol and tobacco and other harmful health behaviors associated with traditional masculinity were often featured in early drafts of masculine identity as tools of gender affirmation. As participants grew into their masculinity and began being affirmed in their gender through legal, social, or medical means, their reliance on negative health behaviors as a gender affirmation tool often decreased. Harmful health behaviors such as alcohol and tobacco use featured prominently into early transition or masculine identity adoption for many transmasculine individuals in this study, and they frequently conceptualized engaging with alcohol and tobacco as a behavior that allowed them to access masculinity. Substance use interventions for transmasculine individuals should move away from a framework that focuses on alcohol, tobacco, and other negative health behaviors solely as a coping mechanism for cissexist stigma and trauma, toward a framework that supports transmasculine individuals in strengthening alternative tools to explore and affirm gender to prevent and reduce substance use. The Masculine Identity Development framework has the potential to be applied to other negative health behaviors and can identify the associations between adopted masculine characteristics and negative health outcomes.

Widanaralalage B.K., Hine B.A., Murphy A.D., Murji K.

Edwards K.M., Mauer V.A., Huff M., Farquhar-Leicester A., Sutton T.E., Ullman S.E.

Sexual assault is common in sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, but few studies have examined SGM victims’ disclosure experiences. This systematic review identified 13 studies through searches of research databases on SGM populations with sexual victimization. These studies showed wide variation in disclosure rates, various barriers to disclosure, and psychological impacts of social reactions to disclosure on SGM individuals. Bisexual women were more likely to disclose to formal (e.g., police, healthcare providers) and informal (e.g., friends, family members) sources than other women, and SGM victims disclose to mental health professionals at particularly high rates. Sexual and gender minority victims also reported numerous barriers to disclosure, including those unique to SGM individuals (e.g., fear of being outed). Impacts of negative social reactions appear to be more negative on psychological symptoms of SGM victims, whereas positive reactions are helpful to recovery. Future research is needed taking an intersectional perspective to studying disclosure and social reactions to SGM individuals from both college and community samples, by examining both sexual minority and racial/ethnic identities in the context of intersectional minority stress theory. Studies are needed of both correlates and consequences of disclosures to both informal and formal support sources to better understand SGM individuals’ reasons for telling and not telling various support sources and the impacts of their disclosure experiences on their recovery. Such data is also needed to inform interventions seeking to identify and intervene with support network members and professionals to reduce negative social reactions and their psychosocial impacts and to increase positive social reactions and general social support from informal support sources.

Ellis A.E., Martino S., Simiola V., Mackintosh M., Bellamy C., Cook J.M.

Sexual abuse of boys and men is a public health problem that has received relatively little attention from clinical scholars and researchers. Given unique pathways for development of and recovery from trauma-related emotional distress, sexual abuse survivors who identify as men may require distinct psychosocial interventions to engage in formal mental health care and assist in symptom reduction. This paper describes the rationale for and methodology of a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) versus MI with affirmative care (MI-AC) for sexual and gender minority men who have been sexually traumatized. This study is designed to randomly assign 356 participants to either condition of six online group sessions delivered by two trained peers with lived experience of sexual trauma. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-treatment, 60- and 120-day follow-up. The primary hypotheses are that participants assigned to MI-AC, compared to those in MI only, will report reduced symptoms of depression and increased levels of engagement in formal mental health treatment. Additional hypotheses relate to secondary outcome variables, including post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, and substance use.

Brienzo M.J., Galupo M.P.

Santoniccolo F., Trombetta T., Rollè L.

Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV) is a complex issue that can be severely damaging. When involved in SSIPV, victims and perpetrators sometimes choose to seek help. The help-seeking process, however, can be difficult. Experiences of help-seeking seem to vary and may be positive or negative depending on several factors, some of which appear to be specific to lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people involved in a same-sex relationship. A systematic review of the literature has been conducted across four databases following the PRISMA statement guidelines. Out of 410 screened abstracts, 78 articles were selected for full-text review. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 studies were included in the current review. Thematic analysis was conducted on these studies and results were discussed by three reviewers. Help-seekers tended to use informal sources of help, perceived to be ambivalently helpful. Formal sources tended to be utilized sparingly, except for counselors. Many formal sources were perceived to be unhelpful, and most of the studies identified several barriers to services that prevented effective help. Formal and helpful sources were perceived as knowledgeable and sensitive about LGB themes. While existing research is limited, formal services that can provide effective care for SSIPV appear scarce. Barriers to services seem widespread, limiting accessibility. Existing services would benefit from increasing their knowledge and sensitivity on SSIPV-specific themes. The development of policies, programs, and interventions that aim to provide effective help is needed, as well as more research.