Negative health issues - attitudes, not homosexuality itself

Justforfun000 · Post by **Justforfun000** » 2008-09-21 03:38pm

Poor Mental And Sexual Health Predicted By Homosexuals' Negative Feelings About Sexuality

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have published a study showing that the degree of internalized homonegativity (negative attitude towards homosexuality) among homosexual men is what predicts poor mental and sexual health - not the act of being homosexual.

As part of attending an HIV prevention seminar, 422 Midwestern gay and bisexual men completed surveys assessing their degree of homosexuality, their degree of positive or negative attitudes towards homosexuality, and a range of mental and sexual health variables.

In all cases, internalized homonegativity, not being homosexual, predicted poorer mental health (particularly increased depression) and worse sexual health. The study appears in the September issue of the Journal of Homosexuality.

The study helps inform the debate of whether or not being homosexual is healthy, said Simon Rosser, Ph.D., a researcher in the School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study.

"This study is a missing link in our understanding of the relationship between sexuality and health," he said. "It provides new evidence that negative attitudes towards homosexuality, not homosexuality itself, are associated with both poorer mental and sexual health outcomes seen in sexual minorities. Conversely, positive attitudes towards homosexuality are associated with better mental and sexual health."

For more than 150 years, scholars and educators have debated whether homosexuality is an objective disorder or whether societal prejudice, not homosexuality, leads to the elevated rates of depression, drug use, and HIV/STD epidemics seen in studies of gay men, Rosser said. This study tested both theories.

"Given the debates in many religious denominations about homosexuality, and in society about homosexuals and civil rights, it's also timely," Rosser said. "In particular, the old advice to gay men to fight, deny, or minimize their homosexuality likely only increases depression, greater isolation, and poorer sexual health. In short, viewing homosexuality as a disorder is not only inaccurate, it may be harmful as well."

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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This research, which is part of the HIV prevention program - funded by the Minnesota Department of Health - has also been shown to be effective in reducing unsafe sex.

Source: Nick Hanson
University of Minnesota

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2008-09-21 04:12pm

So, society at large treating you like shit is bad for your physical and mental health?

Who would have guessed?

Singular Intellect · Post by **Singular Intellect** » 2008-09-21 07:21pm

Vendetta wrote:So, society at large treating you like shit is bad for your physical and mental health?

Who would have guessed?

I'm sure this revelation is shocking to religious upholders, who are surprised the evidence didn't indicate a displeased deity as the cause instead.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2008-09-21 07:23pm

Bubble Boy wrote:
Vendetta wrote:So, society at large treating you like shit is bad for your physical and mental health?

Who would have guessed?
I'm sure this revelation is shocking to religious upholders, who are surprised the evidence didn't indicate a displeased deity as the cause instead.

Assuming they don't outright dismiss as heretical and ungodly.

Singular Intellect · Post by **Singular Intellect** » 2008-09-21 08:36pm

JME2 wrote:
Bubble Boy wrote:
Vendetta wrote:So, society at large treating you like shit is bad for your physical and mental health?

Who would have guessed?
I'm sure this revelation is shocking to religious upholders, who are surprised the evidence didn't indicate a displeased deity as the cause instead.
Assuming they don't outright dismiss as heretical and ungodly.

That only comes after; you're forgetting they actually believe the bullshit I pointed out in the first place.

Post by **Edi** » 2008-09-22 12:40am

What the fuck is so difficult about not spamming?

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2008-09-22 06:44am

It's always nice to see common sense - knowing just how unreliable it can be - confirmed by experiment.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2008-09-22 11:36am

While this is amazingly good news, it is also just a confirmation of what psichiatrists and psychologists have known for 20 years. That the mental health problems and drug abuse seen in gay people is not the result of some dosorder linked to homosexuality, but rather is a result of homophobia acting upon gay people, lowering their self esteem, and causing depression, drug abuse, and in a lot of cases PTSD (10% of gay youth have it...)