Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2025

Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement PMSM, for Investigating Implicit Social Bias

Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement PMSM, for Investigating Implicit Social Bias

Published on: February 29, 2020

Heterosexist Discrimination and Substance Use in Young Adult Sexual Minority Men: Examining the Moderating Role of

Dale Dagar Maglalang¹, Lance Keene¹, Fatima A Mabrouk¹

¹Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, New York, USA.

|March 24, 2025

Abstract

Purpose:

Young sexual minority adults experience high rates of heterosexist discrimination. The use of substances has been documented as a form of coping with discrimination. While mindfulness has been used to address experiences of discrimination and the use of substances, respectively, few studies have explored whether mindfulness can lower the negative effects of discrimination on substance use. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between heterosexist discrimination and substance use in young adult sexual minority men (YASMM), and if dispositional mindfulness can moderate this relationship.

Methods:

Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of heterosexist discrimination and cigarette, e-cigarette, and hazardous drinking in a sample of YASMM (18-35 years old; n = 325) from a national survey. A two-way interaction analysis was also implemented to evaluate if dispositional mindfulness moderated this relationship.

Results:

Heterosexist discrimination was associated with increased odds of cigarette use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.08) and e-cigarette use (aOR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05). Higher scores of dispositional mindfulness moderated the relationship between heterosexist discrimination and hazardous drinking, indicating a weakening effect with higher scores of dispositional mindfulness.

Conclusion:

Mindfulness may decrease the negative effects of heterosexist discrimination on hazardous drinking among YASMM.Health Equity Implications: Researchers and practitioners should consider incorporating mindfulness as a component to their intervention to help YASMM deal with stressors engendered by discrimination, which may prevent hazardous drinking as a coping mechanism at a younger age.

Keywords:

alcohol cigarette use discrimination e-cigarette use mindfulness sexual minorities

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice

Published on: March 15, 2024

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Published on: March 5, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...

Stress and Mental Health

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...

Stereotype Content Model

Stereotype Content Model

The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was first proposed by Susan Fiske and her colleagues (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick & Xu, 2002; see also Fiske, 2012 and Fiske, 2017). The SCM specifies that when someone encounters a new group, they will stereotype them based on two metrics: warmth—or that group’s perceived intent, and how likely they are to provide help or inflict harm—and competence—or their ability to carry out that objective. Depending on the warmth-competence...

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

From learning experience to behavioural intention: examining the effects of animation-based industrial heritage learning among primary school students.

Frontiers in psychology·2026

Transfeminine Survivors' and Facilitators' Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence Content in a Peer-Led HIV-IPV Prevention Program.

Journal of interpersonal violence·2026

Multiplexed Engineering of Disease Resistance and Lodging Tolerance in Wheat Via a Single Xylan Modifying Glycosyltransferase.

Plant biotechnology journal·2026

Synthesising evidence from decades of meditation-based research across populations, interventions, comparisons and outcomes: protocol for a meta-analytic database of randomised controlled trials via the MetaCIH Collaborative.

BMJ open·2026

COVID-19 Racial Discrimination and Substance Use among Asian Americans by Gender.

Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities·2026

Childhood Threat and Deprivation and Links to Mental Health Behaviors and Health Risk Behaviors Among Young Sexual Minority Men: The Differential Roles of Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2026

See all related articles