The Challenges of Being a Rural Gay Man

Preston, Deborah Bray; D’Augelli, Anthony R.

doi:10.4324/9780203067529

Cited by 19 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Up until the 21 st century, it had been logistically challenging to study non-urban GBM both because of geographic dispersion across rural areas and relative invisibility of sexual minority individuals outside of urban setting (Bell & Valentine, 1995; D’Augelli & Hart, 1987; Mustanski, 2001; Preston & D’Augelli, 2013; Williams, Bowen, & Horvath, 2005). However, that changed with expanded use of the Internet both by GBM as well as researchers (Bowen, 2005; Holloway, Dunlap, et al, 2014; Mustanski, 2001; Sullivan, Grey, & Rosser, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recruiting a US National Sample of HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men to Complete at-Home Self-Administered HIV/STI Testing and Surveys: Challenges and Opportunities

et al. 2015

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We describe enrollment for the One Thousand Strong panel, present characteristics of the panel relative to other large U.S. national studies of gay and bisexual men (GBM), and examine demographic and behavioral characteristics that were associated with passing enrollment milestones. A U.S. national sample of HIV-negative men were enrolled via an established online panel of over 22,000 GBM. Participants (n = 1071) passed three milestones to join our panel. Milestone 1 was screening eligible and providing informed consent. Milestone 2 involved completing an hour-long at-home computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) survey. Milestone 3 involved completing at-home self-administered rapid HIV testing and collecting/returning urine and rectal samples for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. Compared to those who completed milestones: those not passing milestone 1 were more likely to be non-White and older; those not passing milestone 2 were less likely to have insurance or a primary care physician; and those not passing milestone 3 were less educated, more likely to be bisexual as opposed to gay, more likely to live in the Midwest, had fewer male partners in the past year, and less likely to have tested for HIV in the past year. Effect sizes for significant findings were small. We successfully enrolled a national sample of HIV-negative GBM who completed at-home CASI assessments and at-home self-administered HIV and urine and rectal STI testing. This indicates high feasibility and acceptability of incorporating self-administered biological assays into otherwise fully online studies. Differences in completion of study milestones indicate a need for further investigation into the reasons for lower engagement by certain groups.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recruiting a US National Sample of HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men to Complete at-Home Self-Administered HIV/STI Testing and Surveys: Challenges and Opportunities

et al. 2015

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“…For example, compared to White sexual minority individuals, individuals who are members of ethnic or racial minorities in addition to being sexual minority individuals are even more vulnerable to negative health outcomes (e.g., Cochran, Mays, Alegria, Ortega, & Takeuchi, 2007;Meyer, Dietrich, & Schwartz, 2008;Nettles & Balter, 2012;Stirratt, Meyer, Ouellette, & Gara, 2008). In addition, certain sociodemographic variables have been linked to higher stress levels and worse health outcomes among GBM, including geographical location (Preston & D'Augelli, 2013;Swank, Frost, & Fahs, 2012), socioeconomic status (Gamarel, Reisner, Parsons, & Golub, 2012), and age (Leletiu-Weinberger, Pachankis, Golub, Walker, Bamonte, & Parsons, 2013). An examination of these moderating effects was beyond the scope of this study.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An empirical examination and extension of the psychological mediation framework among gay and bisexual men: a mixed methods study

Schwartz¹

2021

Preprint

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Compared to heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at an increased risk of adverse mental and sexual health outcomes. Minority Stress Theory (MST) proposes that GBM experience an increased prevalence of poor mental health outcomes as a result of minority stress. Building upon MST, the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) posits that minority stress leads to changes in general cognitive, affective, and social psychological processes, thereby leading to negative mental health outcomes. The present mixed methods study focused on three primary objectives in a sample of 261 GBM: (a) testing the indirect effects of general psychological processes in the relationship between minority stress and poor mental health outcomes; (b) evaluating whether these processes also account for the relationship between minority stress and poor sexual health outcomes; and (c) qualitatively exploring and further clarifying the PMF. Quantitative results provided support for the PMF by demonstrating that experiences of objective stigma were associated with elevations in psychological risk factors, which were in turn associated with adverse mental health outcomes. When each mediator was examined separately, affective processes had a significant effect on mental health outcomes whereas cognitive and social processes were non-significant. For sexual health, the total indirect effect of general psychological mediators in the relationship between stigma and sexual health outcomes was non-significant. However, when mediators were examined separately, cognitive processes did appear to have a significant indirect effect in this relationship, whereas affective and social processes were non-significant. Qualitative results provided partial support for the PMF; many, but not all, of the key components of the model were discussed by participants, and a number of novel themes emerged that expand beyond variables described in the PMF. These findings have important theoretical implications by helping to refine the PMF and future studies of minority stress. Further, by offering a better understanding of the mechanisms linking minority stress and poor health outcomes, this study may help guide future psychological interventions aimed at improving the health of GBM.

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“…Much of the literature however, paints a picture where prevailing rural cultures are seen as highly heteronormative (Preston and D'Augelli 2013) making the task of coming out more difficult and traumatic as documented by personal accounts of Irish men and women (see O'Brien 2003). Traditional, socially conservative values which valorise the heterosexual family often remain the norm in the rural space (Bauch 2001), and lingering homophobia among rural, heterosexual men persist (Gottschalk and Newton 2009).…”

Section: The Rural Intersectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rural cultures and spaces can also be doggedly masculinist, where hegemonic conceptions of masculinity dominate, and are influential in setting the tone for how rural men should be, with images of rural masculinity emphasizing ruggedness, physical strength, macho individualism, and emotional independence (Bell 2006;Preston and D'Augelli 2013). Such cultural conceptualisations of masculinities condemn those men that are perceived to be effeminate (Monro and Richardson, 2010, 105).…”

Section: The Rural Intersectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual citizenship: rhetoric or reality for Rural Gay Men in Ireland and England?

McKearney

2021

Citizenship Studies

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This paper assesses the experiences of gay men living and working in rural areas of Ireland and England. Fieldwork conducted in both countries, finds that gay men who live in the rural space share many similar experiences, concerns and worries. While life outside the cities can bring a number of distinct advantages, such as tranquillity, and a more relaxed pact of life, the men also report numerous challenges which include social isolation, powerful hegemonic narratives around rural masculinity, and a pervasive heteronormative culture. The rural context shapes how the men negotiate their sexual identity, and mediates the nature of their sexual citizenship. In assessing the men as sexual citizens, the paper highlights the tendencies of sexual citizenship to promote a de-sexualised, de-politicised, and de-radicalised gay identity; tendencies which are exacerbated by the context of the nonmetropolitan, small town, and rural spaces. The paper concludes that, while the men may be considered, constitutional sexual citizens, with legal citizenship rights, there remains a legacy of stigmatization, which leads to compromised citizenship on a number of levels.

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The Challenges of Being a Rural Gay Man

Cited by 19 publications

References 0 publications

Recruiting a US National Sample of HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men to Complete at-Home Self-Administered HIV/STI Testing and Surveys: Challenges and Opportunities

Recruiting a US National Sample of HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men to Complete at-Home Self-Administered HIV/STI Testing and Surveys: Challenges and Opportunities

An empirical examination and extension of the psychological mediation framework among gay and bisexual men: a mixed methods study

Sexual citizenship: rhetoric or reality for Rural Gay Men in Ireland and England?

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