Impact of Sexual Orientation Homophily on Mental Health in Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

The minority stress model posits an effect of sexual orientation identity on social support and coping among sexual orientation minorities. This assertion compliments the idea that discussion networks are functionally specific (i.e., we talk to the people who can best help with a stressor). This research collects ego-centric discussion networks data from gay and bisexual men to determine (1) whether there are functionally specific networks to address sexuality-related stress, (2) whether those networks buffer the impact of sexuality-related stress on psychological distress, and (3) whether sexual orientation homophily in a functionally specific network moderates the impact of sexuality-related stress or social support on psychological distress. Results indicate the existence of functionally specific networks for both gay and bisexual men. However, increasing homophily in the functional networks only moderated the effects of sexuality-related stress and perceived social support on psychological distress for gay men.

Keywords:

• Ego-centric networks
• functionally specific networks
• LGB mental health
• homophily

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank A. DeVault, S. Marshall, and L. Naumann for valuable feedback on drafts of this manuscript. The author also wishes to thank V. Springer and M. Elliott for feedback on the methods and earlier iterations of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Peter J. Martini

Peter J. Martini, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Nevada State University, where he teaches courses in health psychology, law and psychology, research methods, and statistics. He received his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Social Psychology from the University of Nevada in 2017.