The influence of dual-identity development on the psychosocial functioning of African-American gay and bisexual men.
To examine the influence of racial-ethnic and sexual identity development on the psychosocial functioning of African-American gay and bisexual men (AAGBM), 174 AAGBM completed questionnaire packets designed to assess their levels of racial-ethnic and sexual identity development, self-esteem, social support, male gender role stress, HIV prevention self-efficacy, psychological distress, and life satisfaction. The results indicate that AAGBM who possess more positive (i.e., integrated) self-identification as being African American and gay reported higher levels of self-esteem, HIV prevention self-efficacy, stronger social support networks, greater levels of life satisfaction, and lower levels of male gender role and psychological distress than their counterparts who reported less positive (i.e., less well integrated) African American and gay identity development. Although higher levels of racial-ethnic identity development were associated with greater levels of life satisfaction, sexual identity development was not.
Crawford
Isiaah
I
Department of Psychology, Loyola University of Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA. icrawfo@luc.edu
Allison
Kevin W
KW
Zamboni
Brian D
BD
Soto
Tomas
T
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000208:ethnology*; D002641:Chicago; D005783:Gender Identity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010553:Personality Development; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014768:Virginia