The impact of homophobia, poverty, and racism on the mental health of gay and bisexual Latino men: Findings from 3 US cities

Objectives. This study assessed the relation between experiences of social discrimination (homophobia, racism, and financial hardship) and symptoms of psychologic distress (anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation) among se lf-identified gay and bisexual Latino men in the United States. Methods. Data were collected from a probability sample of 912 men (self-ide ntified as both Latino, and non-heterosexual) recruited from the venues an public social spaces identified as both Latino and gay in the cities of Mia mi, Los Angeles, and New York. Results. The study showed high prevalence rates of psychologic symptoms of distress in the population of gay Latino men during the 6 months before the interview, including suicidal ideation (17% prevalence), anxiety (44%), an d depressed mood (80%). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, exper iences of social discrimination were strong predictors of psychologic sympt oms. Conclusions. The mental health difficulties experienced by many gay and bis exual Latino men in the United States are directly related to a social cont ext of oppression that leads to social alienation, low self-esteem, and sym ptoms of psychologic distress.