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09/20/08-09/22/08

Study: Self-Perception Biggest Predictor of Gay Men's Health

A new study from the University of Minnesota has found that the more gay men experience internalized "homonegativity" (a negative attitude about being gay), the more likely they are to have poor mental and sexual health, according to Science Daily. The study showed that self-perception is what affects gay men's health -- not simply being gay.

Respondents included 422 Midwestern gay and bisexual men who completed surveys as part of an HIV prevention seminar designed to reveal the degree to which they were gay, the level of positive or negative perceptions they held about being gay, and the state of their mental and sexual health.

"In all cases, internalized homonegativity, not being homosexual, predicted poorer mental health (particularly increased depression) and worse sexual health," reports Science Daily. The findings appear in the September issue of the Journal of Homosexuality.

"This study is a missing link in our understanding of the relationship between sexuality and health," said Simon Rosser, a researcher at Minnesota's School of Public Health and the lead investigator of the study. "It provides new evidence that negative attitudes toward homosexuality, not homosexuality itself, are associated with both poorer mental and sexual health outcomes seen in sexual minorities. Conversely, positive attitudes toward homosexuality are associated with better mental and sexual health." (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Lillith Eve
    Date posted: 2008-09-21 1:51 PM
    Hometown: Allegan, MI

    Comment:

    Kids who get kicked out of home that don't qualify for FAFSA may do poorer in life than kids whose parents help them through college and provide them with free living space while they're getting established. Story at 8! Isn't blaming the victim fun? After all, you can just plug your ears and go “life's not fair, tough!” and that just absolves you of any responsibility. What if I rob you at gun point, I just have to tell the judge, “Shut the waterworks off, you sissy. Life's not fair.” Then he'll let me walk, and that's how it works, right? Obviously you didn't care enough about all that money I stole to protect it good enough. You were irresponsible and let me steal it, so you don't deserve it. Right?


  • Name: Chris Sullivan
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 2:49 PM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    People who feel good about themselves will naturally lead healthier lives. BEING gay has really never been THE issue - how others have made gay people feel ABOUT being gay - now THAT has been the issue. Homophobic people create the problem that gay people have to endure and then turn around and it was the fact that they are gay that they are having problems. Well, that simply is not true - but it is a very self-serving way of not taking any blame for horrible treatment of other people.


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