Strong Ethnic Identity Buffers the Association of Heterosexism with Substance Use Among Black Sexual Minority Men.
Heterosexist stigma, including microaggressions experienced in their own racialethnic communities, may partially explain disproportionate levels of substance use involvement among Black sexual minority men (BSMM). A strong sense of ethnic identity may provide BSMM with a protective resource. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between ethnic identity and substance use in BSMM. Data were from Black sexual minority men (n 390 M More than half of participants reported past 3-month substance use. Heterosexist microaggressions were associated with higher relative risk of cannabis use involvement (RR 1.76 95% CI 1.13-2.73) and overall substance use involvement (RR 2.23 95% CI 1.39-3.56). Stronger ethnic identity buffered the association of heterosexism on substance use involvement (cannabis RR 0.82 95% CI 0.72-0.95 overall RR 0.77 95% CI 0.66-0.89). Nurturing ethnic identity development and reducing heterosexist stigma in Black communities may be a culturally responsive, two-pronged approach to reducing substance use involvement among BSMM. BSMM with strong ethnic identity demonstrated resilience to heterosexist stigma. Future research should examine the extent to which ethnic identity may be cultivated as a protective resource against substance use involvement.