Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health and Wellness Outcomes among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

  • Published:
Journal of Urban Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are a population at the intersection of two minority statuses—racial minority and sexual minority. Membership in either group, compared to white or heterosexual group membership, may increase one’s risk of negative childhood and adult experiences. Baseline data from an HIV intervention efficacy trial (the Black Men Evolving Study) were used to explore the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among 536 BMSM and associations between ACEs and adult mental and physical health outcomes. Overall, the prevalence of ACEs was high among this sample of BMSM with almost 90% experiencing at least one ACE. Findings revealed that ACE score was significantly associated with adult mental health (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.12, 1.30]), but not with adult physical health. All ACEs were significantly associated with mental health, but only physical neglect and household substance abuse were significantly associated with physical health (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.02, 2.74] and AOR = 1.57, 95% CI [1.03, 2.40], respectively). The findings support the need for interventions targeting improved adult health outcomes, particularly for minority groups, to consider the impact of early adversity on health and wellness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andersen JP, Blosnich J. Disparities in adverse childhood experiences among sexual minority and heterosexual adults: results from a multi-state probability-based sample. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54691.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Balsam KF, Rothblum ED, Beauchaine TP. Victimization over the life span: a comparison of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual siblings. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2005;73(3):477–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mouzon DM, Taylor RJ, Keith VM, Nicklett EJ, Chatters LM. Discrimination and psychiatric disorders among older African Americans. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2016;32(2):175–182.

  4. Thoma BC, Huebner DM. Health consequences of racist and antigay discrimination for multiple minority adolescents. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2013;19(4):404–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Pachankis JE. Uncovering clinical principles and techniques to address minority stress, mental health, and related health risks among gay and bisexual men. Clin Psychol Sci Pract. 2014;21(4):313–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, et al. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. Am J Prev Med. 1998;14(4):245–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chapman DP, Whitfield CL, Felitti VJ, Dube SR, Edwards VJ, Anda RF. Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of depressive disorders in adulthood. J Affect Disord. 2004;82(2):217–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gilbert LK, Breiding MJ, Merrick MT, et al. Childhood adversity and adult chronic disease: an update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010. Am J Prev Med. 2015;48(3):345–249.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Remigio-Baker RA, Hayes DK, Reyes-Salvail F. Adverse childhood events and current depressive symptoms among women in Hawaii: 2010 BRFSS, Hawaii. Matern Child Health J. 2014;18(10):2300–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Brown DW, Anda RF, Tiemeier H, et al. Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of premature mortality. Am J Prev Med. 2009;37(5):389–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Metzler M, Merrick MT, Klevens J, Ford DC, Ports KA. Adverse childhood experiences and life opportunities: time to shift the narrative? Children and Youth Services Review. 2016;72:141–149

  12. Cronholm PF, Forke CM, Wade R, et al. Adverse childhood experiences: expanding the concept of adversity. Am J Prev Med. 2015;49(3):354–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board. Wisconsin ACE Brief: 2011 and 2012 Data. Madison: children's trust fund; 2014:5–6. Available athttps://preventionboard.wi.gov/Documents/WisconsinACEsBrief%202011-2012.pdf Accessed on May 17, 2016.

  14. Finkelhor D, Shattuck A, Turner H, Hamby S. Improving the adverse childhood experiences study scale. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(1):70–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Stein BD, Jaycox LH, Kataoka S, Rhodes HJ, Vestal KD. Prevalence of child and adolescent exposure to community violence. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2003;6(4):247–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. McCart MR, Smith DW, Saunders BE, Kilpatrick DG, Resnick H, Ruggiero KJ. Do urban adolescents become desensitized to community violence? Data from a national survey. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2007;77(3):434–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Buka SL, Stichick TL, Birdthistle I, Earls FJ. Youth exposure to violence: prevalence, risks, and consequences. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2001;71(3):298–310.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Williams DR, Gonzalez HM, Neighbors H, et al. Prevalence and distribution of major depressive disorder in African Americans, Caribbean blacks, and non-Hispanic whites: results from the National Survey of American life. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(3):305–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Roxburgh S, MacArthur KR. Childhood adversity and adult depression among the incarcerated: differential exposure and vulnerability by race/ethnicity and gender. Child Abuse Negl. 2014;38(8):1409–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. McLaughlin KA, Hatzenbuehler ML, Xuan Z, Conron KJ. Disproportionate exposure to early-life adversity and sexual orientation disparities in psychiatric morbidity. Child Abuse Negl. 2012;36(9):645–55.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Corliss HL, Wadler BM, Jun HJ, et al. Sexual-orientation disparities in cigarette smoking in a longitudinal cohort study of adolescents. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013;15(1):213–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Garofalo R, Wolf RC, Kessel S, Palfrey J, DuRant RH. The association between health risk behaviors and sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents. Pediatrics. 1998;101(5):895–902.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Marshal MP, Friedman MS, Stall R, Thompson AL. Individual trajectories of substance use in lesbian, gay and bisexual youth and heterosexual youth. Addiction. 2009;104(6):974–81.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Lick DJ, Durso LE, Johnson KL. Minority stress and physical health among sexual minorities. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2013;8(5):521–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Hughes T, McCabe SE, Wilsnack SC, West BT, Boyd CJ. Victimization and substance use disorders in a national sample of heterosexual and sexual minority women and men. Addiction. 2010;105(12):2130–40.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Blosnich JR, Andersen JP. Thursday’s child: the role of adverse childhood experiences in explaining mental health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual US adults. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2015;50(2):335–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Austin A, Herrick H, Proescholdbell S. Adverse childhood experiences related to poor adult health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Am J Public Health. 2016;106(2):314–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Allen Jr VC, Myers HF, Williams JK. Depression among Black bisexual men with early and later life adversities. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2014;20(1):128–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Sedlak AJ, Mettenburg J, Basena M, Peta I, McPherson K, Greene A. Fourth national incidence study of child abuse and neglect (NIS-4). Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. 2010; http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/nis4_report_congress_full_pdf_jan2010.pdf Assessed on May 10, 2016.

  30. Fortson BL, Klevens J, Merrick MT, Gilbert LK, Alexander SP. Preventing child abuse and neglect: a technical package for policy, norm, and programmatic activities. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2016.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  31. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Essentials for childhood: steps to create safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 2014: 7-38. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/essentials_for_childhood_framework.pdf Accessed on May 10, 2016.

Download references

Acknowledgements

Additional Contributions: Derek C. Ford, PhD, Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA provided statistical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop F-63, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    K. A. Ports & R. D. Lee

  2. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    J. Raiford & P. Spikes

  3. Black Men’s Xchange, Washington DC, USA

    C. Manago

  4. University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY, USA

    D. P. Wheeler

Authors
  1. K. A. Ports
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. D. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Raiford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Spikes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. Manago
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. P. Wheeler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. A. Ports.

Additional information

The research described in this article was conducted with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement (5U01PS001574; principal investigator: Darrell P. Wheeler, Ph.D.).The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ports, K.A., Lee, R.D., Raiford, J. et al. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health and Wellness Outcomes among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men. J Urban Health 94, 375–383 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-017-0146-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-017-0146-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation