Religion-based Homonegative Messages, Depression, and HIV Risk in Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

The present investigation was an online quantitative study that examined the associations between religion-based homonegative messages, internalized homonegativity, depressive symptoms, and sexual HIV risk behavior among a nationally recruited sample of 428 Black men who have sex with men (BMSM). The men in the sample had a mean age of 34, primarily resided the Southeastern region of the United States and identified as African American and gay. A series of hierarchal multiple regression and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to test a path model that linked religion-based homonegative messages with sexual HIV risk behavior. Religion-based homonegative messages were found to be significantly associated with internalized homonegativity; internalized homonegativity was found to be significantly associated with depressive symptoms; and depressive symptoms were found to be significantly associated with sexual HIV risk behavior. The implications of these findings for mental health professionals, researchers, HIV prevention workers, and clergy are discussed.