Afrocentricity, homosexual identity integration, and other factors affecting the mental health, and psychological well-being of gay Black men

Gay Black men's dual minority status places them at increased risk for mental illness and psychological distress. Research identified afrocentricity, homosexual identity integration, gender role conflict, multiculturalism, age, and resilience as individual correlates of mental health and psychological well-being. However, the combined efficacy of these variables identifying a significant predictive model for mental health and psychological well-being for this population remained to be empirically examined. This quantitative study aimed to determine how well the combination of these correlates predicted mental health and psychological well-being in gay Black men. The participants were 110 gay Black men who were at least 18 years of age. All participants completed several instruments including the Scales of Psychological Well-Being and Hopkin Symptoms Checklist. Standard multiple linear regression identified a significant predictive model for mental health. Resilience (beta = -.514, p < .01) and afrocentricity (beta = .253, p = .003) were the two significant contributers to the model. A significant model was also identified for psychological well-being. Afrocentricity (beta = -.237, p = .001) and multiculturalism (beta = .512, p <.001) were the significant contributors to the model. This research is important because it identified a predictive model for mental health and psychological well-being that was not previously identified. The implications for positive social change can be realized through interventions aimed toward helping gay Black men increase and maintain positive mental health and psychological well-being. America stands to benefit from a population that has positive mental health and psychological well-being profiles which are conducive to productive membership in society.