Racial/Ethnic Identification, Non-Affirming Cultural Environments, and Internalized Homonegativity Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Background and Purpose: Sexual minority adolescents consistently report greater mental health inequities compared to their heterosexual peers. One of the driving explanations for these inequities is the presence of homophobic and heterosexist social world, which often leads to internalized homonegativity. In addition, the literature suggests within-group heterogeneity in health equities and experiences based on membership to other minoritized social identities and experiences. For example, non-affirming cultural environments (religious, racial/ethnic) may exacerbate stressors associated with internalized homonegativity. Despite this knowledge interplay of multiple social identities, current literature is limited in understanding on the relationship between racial/ethnic identification, non-affirming socio-cultural environments, and internalized homonegativity among sexual minority adolescents.

Methods: This study has utilized a large national dataset of sexual minority adolescents aged 14–17 years (N = 2588). We ask the following research questions: (1) what are the predictors of experiencing minority stress from non-affirming cultural environments (religious, and racial/ethnic)?; (2) what is the association between non-affirming cultural environments, and internalized homonegativity among sexual minority adolescents? We conducted a series of multivariate linear regression models, and all models controlled for age, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity.

Results: In our sample, the mean values for stressors associated non-affirming religious environment is 22.1 (range 0-100), non-affirming racial/ethnic environment (M = 25.5, range 0-100); and internalized homonegativity (M = 14.5, range 0-100). First, we examined the relationship between racial identification and experiencing stressors associated non-affirming cultural environments. Identifying with any non-White racial group compared to White was significantly associated with reporting higher scores stress associated with non-affirming racial/ethnic environments, while, identifying as Black or African American, and Latino/Hispanic compared to White was associated with non-affirming religious environment. In the next model, non-affirming religious and racial/ethnic were also positively associated with higher rates of internalized homonegativity.

Conclusion: The results from this study, particularly those regarding the heterogeneity in experiences of non-affirming cultural environments, and its association with internalized homonegativity. Findings challenge the homogenous treatment and operationalization of internalized homonegativity and furthers our understanding on underlying mechanisms and experiences that contribute to higher rates of internalized stigma. The results also indicate that adolescents from racial/ethnic minorities may also experience heightened internalized stigma associated with conflicting values and norms associated with different social memberships. Practice and intervention with adolescents on building positive sexual identities and reducing internalized homonegativity must be responsive to the interplay between multiple intersecting social identities and environments.