Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) and Psychological Well-being among Young Sexual Minority Men of Color (YSMMoC)

项目总结 使用虚拟的社交网络场所(例如，移动应用程序和网站)来寻找亲密伴侣是 在年轻的性少数(SM)男性中几乎无处不在。然而，很少有人注意到独一无二的 在线空间中发生的歧视现象，以及这些经历如何影响 年轻的性少数有色人种男性(YSMMoC)。其中一个未被充分研究的现象就是种族主义。 性别歧视(RSD)，定义为基督教青年会在网上遇到的性别化歧视待遇 在寻找亲密伴侣的时候。RSD，也被称为‘性种族主义’，在这些空间中很普遍， 并可能是YSMMoC在他们的 日常生活。因此，经常使用虚拟空间会见亲密伴侣的YSMMoC可能面临更高的风险 对不良的心理社会后果负责。到目前为止，少数对RSD进行了定量研究的研究还没有 使用经过验证的量表，捕捉在线设置独有的RSD的多个方面。致信地址 针对这些差距，PI启动了一项探索性的混合方法研究，以开发和测试多维量表 研究RSD与年轻的黑人SM男性之间的关系，并研究RSD与心理健康之间的联系。 对初始量表的探索性因素分析显示，该量表由8个因素构成。该量表被认为是可靠的。 和心理测量学健康，RSD的四个因素与抑郁症状和 自我价值感。然而，还需要更多的研究来检查这些人的心理测量学特性 其他青年管委会的RSD量表，以及RSD对一套更全面的指标的预测有效性 心理健康。因此，当前研究的目标是进一步推进开发和验证 在N=1,500 YSMMoC的在线样本中，展示了一种新的、多维的RSD标度。具体目标是： (1)对N=500名黑人男性进行验证性因素分析(CFA)和信度分析 方程模型；(2)通过执行额外的CFA来测试跨种族/民族群体的测量不变性 以及对N=500名拉丁裔和N=500名亚裔男性样本的可靠性分析；以及(3)检验两者之间的关系 RSD因素与四个心理健康指标之间的关系，例如抑郁、孤独、自我价值感和 生活满足感。我们对RSD的考察是以少数应激理论和交叉性为指导的，两 医学研究所关于LGBT健康的开创性报告优先考虑概念框架。寻址 YSMMoC中的歧视经历是NIH的一个高度优先领域，心理功能 在这一人群中，这仍然是一个重大的公共卫生问题。因此，开发一个健壮而全面的 RSD的测量将显著推进旨在缓解以下负面影响的健康公平研究 青年管委会心理健康问题辨析。这项工作将为今后的研究奠定基础 考察在线经历的跨部门少数族裔压力源，并最终为发展提供信息 干预措施既有文化上的量身定做，又有虚拟环境的特殊性。

PROJECT SUMMARY The use of virtual sociosexual networking venues (e.g., mobile apps and websites) to find intimate partners is near ubiquitous among young sexual minority (SM) men. However, little attention has been paid to the unique discriminatory phenomena that occur in online spaces, and how these experiences impact the mental health of young sexual minority men of color (YSMMoC). One such phenomenon that has been understudied is Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), defined as the sexualized discriminatory treatment that YSMMoC encounter online when looking for intimate partners. RSD, also referred to as `sexual racism,' is widespread within these spaces, and may be a part of the broader constellation of race-based micro-aggressions that YSMMoC encounter in their daily lives. Thus, YSMMoC who regularly use virtual spaces to meet intimate partners may be at elevated risk for poor psychosocial outcomes. To date, the few studies that have quantitatively investigated RSD have not used validated scales that capture the multiple aspects of RSD that are unique to online settings. To address these gaps, the PI launched an exploratory mixed-methods study to develop and test a multi-dimensional scale of RSD with young Black SM men and examine the associations between RSD and psychological well-being. Exploratory factor analyses of the initial scale revealed an 8-factor structure. The scale was found to be reliable and psychometrically sound, and four factors of RSD were negatively associated with depressive symptoms and feelings of self-worth. Additional research is needed, however, to examine the psychometric properties of the RSD scale for other YSMMoC and the predictive validity of RSD to a more comprehensive set of indicators of psychological well-being. Thus, the goal of the current study is to further advance the development and validation of a novel, multidimensional scale of RSD in an online sample of N=1,500 YSMMoC. The specific aims are to: (1) perform a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and reliability analysis with N=500 Black men using structural equation models; (2) test for measurement invariance across racial/ethnic groups by performing additional CFAs and reliability analyses among a sample of N=500 Latino and N=500 Asian men; and (3) examine the relationship between RSD factors and four indicators of psychological well-being, e.g., depression, loneliness, self-worth and life satisfaction. Our examination of RSD is guided by Minority Stress Theory and Intersectionality, two conceptual frameworks prioritized in the Institute of Medicine's seminal report on LGBT health. Addressing experiences of discrimination among YSMMoC is a high-priority area for NIH, and psychological functioning among this population remains a significant public health concern. Thus, developing a robust and comprehensive measure of RSD will significantly advance health equity research aimed at mitigating the negative effects of discrimination on the mental health of YSMMoC. This work will lay the foundation for future research that examines intersectional minority stressors that are experienced online, and ultimately inform the development of interventions that are both culturally-tailored, and specific to virtual environments.