title: Testing Cross-Sectional and Prospective Mediators of Internalized Heterosexism on Heavy Drinking, Alcohol Problems, and Psychological Distress Among Heavy Drinking Men Who Have Sex With Men.
abstract: Minority stress theory is one of the primary theories used to understand substance use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. This study tested whether drinking to cope with stress (DTC), loneliness, and gay community participation (GCP) mediated the relationship between one type of minority stress (i.e., internalized heterosexism) and behavioral health outcomes.
  
  
  
  Using secondary data analysis and the PROCESS procedure, relationships between internalized heterosexism, the mediators (DTC, loneliness, and GCP), and outcomes (heavy drinking, alcohol problems, and psychological distress) were explored, both cross-sectionally and in a lagged manner, among both treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking problem drinking men who have sex with men. Problem drinkers (N = 187) were assessed, provided brief normative feedback about their drinking, given the choice to receive brief alcohol use disorder treatment or change on their own, and then followed for 9 months.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional findings revealed that internalized heterosexism was significantly associated with heavy drinking, alcohol problems, and psychological distress. DTC emerged as a significant mediator of internalized heterosexism for all the health outcomes. Loneliness and GCP were significant mediators of internalized heterosexism for alcohol problems and psychological distress. Multiple mediation models reveal that all three mediators significantly contribute to internalized heterosexism's effect on health outcomes. Lagged analyses did not yield any significant indirect effects.
  
  
  
  DTC, loneliness, and GCP all play an integral, mediational role in the relationship between internalized heterosexism and alcohol problems and psychological distress. Findings underscore the necessity of addressing internalized heterosexism in psychosocial interventions along with coping skills training, emphasizing culturally relevant social support and loneliness.
authors.affiliation: Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College at City University of New York, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuerbis
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.|Department of Health Studies, American University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Ethan H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Mereish
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Services and Psychotherapy Intervention Research (CASPIR), Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science, Rutgers School of Public Health, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Services and Psychotherapy Intervention Research (CASPIR), Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York.
authors.forename: Sijing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Services and Psychotherapy Intervention Research (CASPIR), Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult