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Abstract
Due to systemic racism and homophobia, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer (LGBQ+) youth of color are disproportionately affected by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and viral hepatitis (VH). Innovative approaches that acknowledge strengths such as ethnic identity need to be examined to understand specific protective factors that can support LGBQ + youth of color. This study aimed to examine the moderating effects of ethnic identity and LGBQ + identity on indicators of HIV knowledge (i.e., VH knowledge, sexual negotiation skills, and perception of sexual risk). Youth who identified as Hispanic/Latinx, African American/Black, and mixed racial-identity (N = 564) were included in the delimited sample. Using linear regression modeling, results showed that there was a positive association between sexual negotiation skill, sexual risk perception, ethnic identity and HIV knowledge. Ethnic identity displayed a positive and significant moderating effect between predictors and HIV knowledge. Three-way interactions between predictors by ethnic identity × LGBQ + interaction showed equally interesting associations with HIV knowledge. Study implications include the need for strengthening ethnic identity and pride among LGBQ + youth of color within HIV prevention programming.
Author Contributions
D.T.L: conceptualization, overall writing of manuscript, and analyses; I.O: conceptualization, writing of manuscript; E.N.A: writing of manuscript; F.B: writing of manuscript, analytical support; P.G.R: Co-PI of grant (SAMHSA); R.J.R: PI of grant, supervision (SAMHSA).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
David T. Lardier
David Lardier is an Assistant Research Professor in UNM’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science’s, Division of Community Behavioral Health. Dr. Lardier’s research interests include the implementation and evaluation of substance misuse, mental health, and sexual health prevention-intervention programming; evaluation and scale development; statistical methodology for multi-level prevention-intervention research; the implementation of evidence-based practices in ethnically-diverse and rural communities; and both youth and community empowerment and resiliency. Dr. Lardier has served as Co-Investigator and Lead Evaluator for both SAMHSA and NIH grants. Dr. Lardier also provides clinical psychological services through the University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Ijeoma Opara
Ijeoma Opara is a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the School of Public Health. She is also the founder and director of the Substance Abuse & Sexual Health Lab (www.oparalab.org). Her research interests focus on HIV/AIDS, STI, and substance use prevention for urban youth, racial and gender specific prevention interventions for Black girls, and community-based participatory research with urban youth. Dr. Opara was named the 2020 recipient of the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award.
Emmanuella Ngozi Asabor
Emmanuella Ngozi Asabor is an MD-PhD student whose research sits at the intersection of social medicine, epidemiology, and health policy. She earned her bachelor’s at the Harvard University where she studied the history of medicine and global health. She also holds a master’s degree in African Studies from the University of Cambridge. Prior to Yale, she shaped supportive housing policy in New York City through a joint NYU and New York State Department of Health initiative.
Felicity Bell
Ms. Felicity Bell is a former student of the University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology, who received her B.A. in Psychology in Fall 2021. She is focused on obtaining her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is attending graduate school to complete a master’s degree in international disaster psychology at the University of Denver.
Pauline Garcia-Reid
Pauline Garcia-Reid is a professor in Family Science and Human Development, with an affiliate appointment in the Center for Child Advocacy and Policy at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. Dr. Garcia-Reid’s research interests include youth substance use and violence prevention, social justice and advocacy within a culturally-grounded social work lens, and practice and research with racial and ethnic minority children and families. Dr. Garcia-Reid is the Primary Investigator (PI) on a federally funded prevention-intervention grant, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Robert J. Reid
Robert J. Reid is a professor in Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. Dr. Reid’s research focuses on the development, coordination, and testing of community-wide prevention initiatives to reduce risk and to promote protective factors associated with various health behaviors, such as adolescent substance abuse, sexual risk, and youth violence. Dr. Reid also serves as Primary Investigator (PI) on a federally funded prevention-intervention grants, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).