RESUMEN
Introduction: The present study aimed to examine dyadic associations between attachment insecurity and emotional intimacy in same-sex male couples, and to investigate whether and how each partner's internalized homonegativity (IH) moderated these associations. Methods: The sample included 138 same-sex male couples. Both dyad members completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, emotional intimacy, and IH. The actor-partner interdependence model with moderation analysis was applied. Results: Indicated that higher levels of actor's and partner's attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with lower actor's emotional intimacy. IH moderated the partner effects of attachment avoidance on emotional intimacy. The partner's higher attachment avoidance was associated with one's own lower emotional intimacy at low (but not high) levels of one's own IH and at high (but not low) levels of the partner's IH. Discussion: Findings suggest that the partner's attachment avoidance may differently affect one's own emotional intimacy depending on the IH levels of both dyad members. Helping partnered sexual minority men decrease attachment insecurity while recognizing their own and their partners' IH may promote relationship quality.
RESUMEN
Heterosexism is not only expressed through sexual prejudice as an external stressor, but also as an internalized rejection toward one's own (and others') sexually diverse identity. That is, lesbian women and gay men themselves internalize negative societal attitudes toward their sexual orientation and identity-a phenomenon called internalized homonegativity. A wealth of research shows that internalized homonegativity negatively affects the health and social adjustment of gay and lesbian people. However, the literature has documented this trend from an individual (over a dyadic) perspective, and largely among gay (over lesbian) samples. To address this oversight, we analyzed data from 210 gay and lesbian couples in Chile to examine both actor and partner effects of internalized homonegativity on their sexual satisfaction. Results from moderation analyses from an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) approach show that partners' internalized homonegativity negatively affects actor sexual satisfaction, a pattern significantly moderated by gender; that is, only observed among lesbian couples. Our results further demonstrated that these effects hold above and beyond the actor and partner effects of age and relationship satisfaction, as well as relationship length. These results are consistent with the broader literature, which discusses the specific features of internalized homonegativity in lesbian women, characterized-among other aspects-by restrictive social demands over their sexuality. Accordingly, our findings highlight the deleterious relational consequences of internalized homonegativity and offer a relevant empirical contribution to the understanding of specific minority stress dynamics among lesbian women.
Asunto(s)
Homosexualidad Femenina , Minorías Sexuales y de Género , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Homosexualidad Masculina , Chile , Conducta SexualRESUMEN
Resumen Introducción: diferentes autores señalan la necesidad de realizar más estudios sobre las variables asociadas con la homonegatividad internalizada (HI) en Latinoamérica. Objetivo: explorar la asociación entre la HI, la autoidentificación con la homosexualidad y las variables sociodemográficas (género, edad, nivel educativo y desigualdad económica). Método: un muestreo no probabilístico tipo "Bola de nieve" fue realizado en un grupo de 489 personas con un promedio de 23.4 años de edad (DE=6.6) en cinco ciudades colombianas (Bogotá, Barranquilla, Pereira, Villavicencio y Tunja). El grado de autoidentificación con la homosexualidad fue estimado con la escala de Kinsey. También se utilizó un cuestionario de HI. Resultados: un análisis de regresión lineal jerárquica mostró que la HI está asociada significativamente con el género, el grado de identificación con la orientación sexual y la edad, pero no con el nivel educativo o la desigualdad económica. A pesar de que todas las variables estudiadas aportaron algún grado de varianza al modelo, la autoidentificación con la homosexualidad y el género aportaron el mayor porcentaje de varianza para explicar la asociación con HI. Discusión: este estudio permite una primera aproximación empírica al estudio de la HI en Colombia y resalta la importancia de implementar políticas públicas y el uso de terapias afirmativas para disminuirla, particularmente en hombres jóvenes en proceso de autoidentificación con la homosexualidad.
Abstract Introduction: Different authors highlight the need to conduct more studies on the variables associated with internalized homonegativity in Latin America. Objective: To explore the association between internalized homonegativity, self-identification with homosexuality and sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex, age, educational level, and economic inequality). Methods: Non-probabilistic type snowball sampling in a group of 489 people with an average of 23.4 years of age (SD = 6.6) from five Colombian cities (Bogotá, Barranquilla, Pereira, Villavicencio and Tunja). The degree of self-identification with homosexuality was measured with the Kinsey scale. An internalized homonegativity questionnaire was also used. Results: A linear hierarchical regression analysis showed that internalized homonegativity is significantly associated with sex, the degree of identification with sexual orientation and age, but not with educational level or economic inequality. Although all the variables contributed to some extent to the model, the identification with sexual orientation and sex showed the greatest contribution in variance to explain the association with internalized homonegativity. Discussion: This study is a first empirical approach to the study of internalized homonegativity in Colombia and highlights the importance of implementing public policies and the use of affirmative therapies to reduce internalized homonegativity, particularly in young men in the process of self-identification with homosexuality
RESUMEN
Internalized homonegativity results from the acceptance of negative attitudes about one's same-sex orientation, which has negative consequences for the health of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM). We translated the 7-item Reactions to Homosexuality Scale (RHS) to Brazilian Portuguese and assessed its factor structure, validity and reliability. The first step included the translation, back-translation, evaluation, peer review, and pre-testing of the scale. Then, we piloted the scale in two convenience samples of adult Brazilians recruited online during October 2019 and February to March 2020 through advertisements on Grindr and Hornet, respectively. The largest sample was randomly split into two groups for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) then confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Criterion and construct validity were assessed via correlations between scale scores and study variables. A total of 5573 GBM (sample 1: 218; sample 2: 5355) completed the RHS. EFA (N = 2652) yielded two eigenvalues greater than one (Factor 1: 3.5 and Factor 2: 1.1). A one-factor solution provided the most interpretable model based on examination of scree plot and item factor loadings (χ2(14) = 1373.1, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.89; TLI = 0.84; RMSEA = 0.19; SRMS = 0.09). Though one-factor CFA showed moderate fit, freeing errors terms to covary, based on item content and interpretation, significantly improved model fit (χ2(12) = 309.1, p < .001; CFI = 0.97; TLI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.09; SRMR = 0.02). As hypothesized, men who did not self-identify as gay (mean score 17.9 compared to those self-identifying as gay: 11.8) and men who reported no sex with men in the past 6 months (mean score 12.6 compared to those who reported sex with men: 10.6) scored higher reflecting higher internalized homonegativity. The RHS was effectively translated and validated in Brazilian Portuguese and can be used to evaluate the role of internalized homonegativity on GBM's health, as well as its impact on the uptake of HIV prevention technologies.