An exploration of social identity and mental health in Black gay men

As humans, we have an inherent tendency to join social groups and incorporate those groups into one's identity (social identification). A sense of belonging to a group promotes positive self-views and better physical and mental health. However, as members of a racial minority group, Black gay men face the possibility of a threatened social identity due to their sexual orientation. This study explored racial and sexual identity in older Black gay men to understand their impact on mental health and wellbeing. Participants took part in the Social Justice Sexuality (SJS) survey of LGBTQ+ people of color over a 12-month period in the United States. They responded to measures of racial and sexual identity, mental and physical health, connectedness to community, and additional social and demographic characteristics. Data revealed that strong identification with both racial and sexual identities is positively correlated with mental health in older Black gay men. However, a stronger sense of racial identification over sexual identification is negatively correlated with mental health, and vice versa. These findings highlight the need to consider social context when attempting to understand mental health outcomes among Black gay men.