Stress Appraisal Mediates the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression Among Black Same-Gender-Loving Men: An African-Centered Interpretation

Overview

Journal Am J Mens Health

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2024 Nov 28

PMID 39605278

Authors

Jonathan Mathias Lassiter

Ashley Foye

Kainaat Anwar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Black same-gender-loving (SGL) men (BSGLM) bear a disproportionate burden of depression. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been found to predict depression among this group. However, little research has examined the mechanisms that may account for this relationship. This study aimed to examine how stress appraisal explained the association between ACEs and depression. This cross-sectional study leveraged survey data from 169 BSGLM residing in the United States. Utilizing Hayes' PROCESS Macro (Model 4), we found that five different dimensions of stress appraisal were significant partial mediators of the association between ACEs and depression. Specifically, ACEs predicted lower levels of stress appraisal dimensions consistent with an optimal worldview, which in turn were inversely associated with depressive symptoms. ACEs predicted higher levels of stress appraisal dimensions consistent with a suboptimal worldview, which in turn were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Effects sizes ranged from small to large. Implications of these findings for clinical care and research with BSGLM were discussed.

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