Consequently, many researchers have demonstrated that maintaining psychological health is especially challenging for this population ( D’Augelli, 2002 Halverson, 2005 Rotheram-Borus & Fernandez, 1995). In addition, LGBT youth often experience discrimination and abuse on the basis of sexual orientation in a variety of contexts, including school, family, and community settings ( Birkett, Espelage, & Koenig, 2009 Friedman, Marshal, Stall, Cheong, & Wright, 2008 Hatzenbuehler, 2011 Kosciw, Greytak, & Diaz, 2009 Ryan, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2009 Sullivan & Wodarski, 2002). Furthermore, LGBT adolescents have much higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide completion when compared with heterosexual youth ( Haas et al., 2010 Russell & Joyner, 2001 Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 2008). Researchers have reported that LGBT adolescents have considerably higher rates of substance use when compared with heterosexual adolescents, and that substance use is also associated with sexual risk taking and suicide attempts among gay and bisexual youth ( Jordan, 2000 Marshal et al., 2008 Remafedi, 1994 Remafedi, Farrow, & Deisher, 1991 Rotheram-Borus et al., 1994). While these health concerns are applicable to youth as a whole, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and other nonheterosexually identified youth may face additional challenges related to health. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to, substance abuse and dependence, sexual health, and psychosocial functioning ( Bennett & Bauman, 2000 Countryman, 2012 Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992 Shrier, Harris, Sternberg, & Beardslee, 2001 Viner et al., 2012). These factors serve to contextualize behavioral health risk and health outcomes for adolescents and young adults. This developmental period is marked by the negotiation of complex intrapersonal, interpersonal, and broader social experiences, and is further influenced by the varied cultural, environmental, and sociopolitical settings in which adolescents are situated ( Crockett, 1997 Deas, 2005 Smetana, Campione-Barr, & Metzger, 2006). The health and well-being of adolescents and young adults has been an area of prominent focus in public health. More research is needed on the diverse health issues of a vulnerable and underexamined population. This review concludes that studies on Black YGBMSM health places sex at the forefront to the neglect of other critical health domains. Last, there was a noteworthy deficit of qualitative studies and research exploring intersectional identity and health. Important sociostructural factors, including sexual networks and race-based discrimination, were poorly represented. Data on health care delivery/receipt and health insurance were underrepresented tobacco use and substance abuse were seldom addressed.
Few articles included content on psychosocial functioning, including bullying/harassment, suicide, and racial/ethnic identity. Out of 54 articles, most were published after 2004 ( N = 49 90.7%) and addressed some aspect of sexual health ( N = 50 92.6%). A coding sheet was created to collect information on all content areas and related subtopics and computed descriptive statistics. An extensive literature review and content analysis of health-related peer-reviewed articles (1988-2013) was conducted that targeted Black YGBMSM, examining five content areas: sexual health, health care, substance use, psychosocial functioning, and sociostructural factors.
Black young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YGBMSM) are at high risk for negative health outcomes, though this population is underrepresented in the health literature.