Gay male sexual assault survivors: The relations among internalized homophobia, experiential avoidance, and psychological symptom severity
Abstract
This study explored the relations among internalized homophobia (IH), experiential avoidance, and psychological symptom severity in a community sample of 74 gay male sexual assault survivors. Results indicated that IH is associated with both depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. IH accounted for more variance than assault severity in predicting both PTSD and depression symptom severity. IH and experiential avoidance similarly predicted PTSD symptom severity. In comparison with IH, however, experiential avoidance is a stronger predictor of depression symptom severity. Results also showed that experiential avoidance partially mediated the relation between IH and both depressive and PTSD symptom severity. The implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.
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Experiential avoidance mediates the relationship between internalized homophobia and the severity of depressive symptoms.
“It also mediates the relationship between internalized homophobia and the severity of depressive symptoms [19].”
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“Internalized homophobia was associated with PTSD among gay male [26] and lesbian [27] sexual assault survivors.”
Intersection of Trauma and Identity
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Malta, M., de Jesus, J. G., LeGrand, S., Seixas, M., Benevides, B., Silva, M. D. D., Lana, J. S., Huynh, H. V., Belden, C. M., & Whetten, K. (2020) · Global Public Health · doi:10.1080/17441692.2020.1767676 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
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Religious Attitudes, Homophobia, and Professional Counseling
Bowers, R., Minichiello, V., & Plummer, D. (2010) · Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling · doi:10.1080/15538605.2010.481961 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
“The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network ( GLSEN, 2003 ) conducted a National School Climate Survey of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students in the United States.”
BackgroundHayes, S. C., Hofmann, S. G., & Stanton, C. E. (2020) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.08.009 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Schulze, C., & Koon‐Magnin, S. (2017) · Violence and Victims · doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-15-00017 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
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“Non-heterosexuals (or those perceived to be non-heterosexual) are often subject to a slew of prejudice and discrimination such as bullying (Poteat and Espelage, 2005), physical abuse (Saewyc et al., 2004), sexual abuse (Gold and Marx, 2007), and violence (Gruenewald, 2012).”
BackgroundBinion, K., & Gray, M. J. (2020) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325024.2019.1707987 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
“This assessment could orient clinicians to potential cognitive distortions (Jackson et al., 2017), experiential avoidance (Gold et al., 2009), and risk factors that may be adversely impacting psychological functioning (Gold et al., 2007).”
BackgroundFuture directions in studies of trauma among ethnoracial and sexual minority samples: Commentary.
Triffleman, E., & Pole, N. (2010) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0020225 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Prudenzi, A., Graham, C. D., Rogerson, O., & O’Connor, D. B. (2023) · Psychology & Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2021.2020272 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“…at times of great difficulty, such as wars (Tol et al., 2020), school shootings, devastating storms, or violent crime (e.g. Brockman et al., 2016; Gold & Marx 2007; Kumpula et al., 2011), higher psychological flexibility can help people function effectively even when experiencing strong emotions…”
BackgroundResultFlynn, M. K., & Bhambhani, Y. (2021) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.04.008 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Cognitive-Behavioral Erectile Dysfunction Treatment for Gay Men
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“Additionally, researchers could examine trauma-relatedprocesses (e.g., experiential avoidanceand internalized homophobia) (Fortier et al., 2009; Gold & Marx, 2007; Rosenthal et al., 2005) as possible mediators underlying the associations between CSA and mentalhealth (e.g., psychological…”
BackgroundSexual minority status and trauma symptom severity in men living with HIV/AIDS
Kamen, C. S., Flores, S., Taniguchi, S., Khaylis, A., Lee, S. S., Koopman, C., & Gore-Felton, C. E. (2011) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-011-9329-5 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“For example, one study showed that internalized homophobia was a stronger predictor of traumarelated symptoms than assault severity in gay-identified men who have survived sexual assault ( Gold et al. 2007 ).”
BackgroundInvestigating the role of psychological inflexibility, mindfulness, and self-compassion in PTSD
Cheng, Z. H., Lozier, C. C., Lewis, M. M., O'Neil, M. E., Luoma, J. B., & Morasco, B. J. (2021) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.10.004 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
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Needs of Male Sexual Assault Victims in the U.S. Armed Forces
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Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity as a Moderator of Relationship Functioning After Sexual Assault
Gemberling, T. M., Cramer, R. J., Miller, R. S., Stroud, C. H., Noland, R. M., & Graham, J. M. (2014) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260514563834 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“The results of Hypothesis 2 are in line with the limited literature (e.g., Coxell & King, 2010; Gold et al., 2009; Gold et al., 2007) connecting sexual assault victimization and LGB identity components.”
ResultBedford, C. E., Trotter, A. M., Potter, M. R., & Schmidt, N. B. (2023) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.22970 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
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La otra migración. Historias de discriminación de personas que vivieron con VIH en México
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“Similarly, Gold, Marx, and Lexington (2007) found that gay male sexual assault survivors reported higher levels of negative feelings about their sexual orientation than community samples of gay men.”
BackgroundXue, S., & Xu, W. (2022) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/08862605221104528 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
ACEs, sexual violence, and sexual health
Wekerle, C., Hébert, M., Daigneault, I., Fortin-Langelier, E., & Smith, S. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-816065-7.00006-9 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
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“When this belief is indoctrinated into the LGBTQ+ mind, it can lead to self-loathing and selfbelittling thoughts and behaviors (McDermott et al., 2008; Meyer & Dean, 1998), which may further result in psychopathological symptoms (Amadio, 2006; Gold & Marx, 2007).”
BackgroundInternalised homonegativity and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis
Mercan, M. N., Güvenç, İ. B., & Cingöz-Ulu, B. (2024) · Psychology and Sexuality · doi:10.1080/19419899.2024.2400187 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
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“These beliefs may also stem from internalised homophobia, which has been linked to sexual minority survivors believing they deserved to victimised or were targeted because of their sexual orientation (Dillon, 2001, as cited in Gold et al., 2007).”
BackgroundChronic Stress, Regulation of Emotion, and Functional Activity of the Brain
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Male Survivors of Sexual Assault: To tell or not to tell?
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Oh, H. Y., Jacob, L., Smith, L., Leaune, É., Zhou, S., Shin, J. I., & Koyanagi, A. (2022) · Journal of Homosexuality · doi:10.1080/00918369.2022.2132582 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Moreover, our study did not examine other linkages or explanatory factors (e.g., rejection sensitivity (Anglin et al., 2016), internalized homophobia (Gold et al., 2009; Gold & Marx, 2007), which may have resulted in omitted variable bias.”
BackgroundPeitzmeier, S. M., Stephenson, R. B., Delegchoimbol, A., Dorjgotov, M., & Baral, S. (2015) · Global Public Health · doi:10.1080/17441692.2015.1114133 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Homophobia may still be an issue impacting experiences and perceptions of rape in these populations, as internalised homophobia among gay male rape survivors has been shown to be more predictive of PTSD and depressive symptoms after an assault than assault severity (Gold et al., 2007).”
BackgroundInfluentialThe Role of Experiential Avoidance in Trauma, Substance Abuse, and Other Experiences
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“Lower psychological flexibility has been found to predict trauma and mental health problems in the context of natural disasters, school shootings, and violent crimes (e.g., Gold et al., 2007; Kumpula et al., 2011; Marshall and Brockman, 2016).”
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“We selected covariates in this analysis based on a literature review (Desrichard et al., 2018; DiGrande et al., 2008; Frazier et al., 2018; Gold & Marx, 2007; McMillan et al., 2020; Regan et al., 2016; Ursoiu et al., 2018; Williamson, 2000) and expert knowledge, with covariates chosen to minimize…”
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“Finally, experiential avoidance did not significantly mediate the association between childhood physical abuse and PTSD symptoms (Gold et al., 2007).”
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“It also mediates the relationship between internalized homophobia and the severity of depressive symptoms [19].”
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“These messages lead to devaluation and poor self-regard in the individual and have been linked to shame, psychological distress, loneliness, lower self-esteem, and greater substance use [15,66].”
BackgroundInfluentialCulture, Sexual Orientation, and Distress Among LGBQ Asian and Pacific Islander Individuals
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Trauma Treatment Considerations for Sexual Minoritized Veterans
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Nicholson, A. A., Siegel, M., Villeneuve, A. H., Angeletti, L. L., Fani, N., Hatchard, T., Northoff, G., Lanius, R. A., Pichtikova, M., Hosseini‐Kamkar, N., et al. (2026) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106841 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gold, S. D., Marx, B. P., & Lexington, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Temple University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Marx, Brian P.
- ORCID
- Marx, Brian P.
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-03
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 549-562
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2072218636
- Cited by
- 104
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 6.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Temple University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Keywords
- internalized homophobia, experiential avoidance, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, mediation, sexual minority mental health
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Mental Disorders, Defense Mechanisms, Depressive Disorder, Homosexuality, Humans, Identification, Psychological, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Prejudice, Self Concept, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Offenses, Social Identification, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Violence, Survivors, Crime Victims
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