Identity management processes, contextual supports and barriers, and substance use among sexual minority workers: A social cognitive lens.

Sexual minority people report substance use at higher rates than their heterosexual peers. Workplace sexual identity management, defined as the process by which sexual minority persons disclose or conceal their identities at work, may exacerbate substance use under stressful conditions, such as when faced with incivility. However, there is a paucity of research on the relation of the work environment to sexual minority workers' substance use. The present study used the social cognitive career self-management model as a conceptual framework to examine two aspects of the work environment (positive climate and harassment) in relation to the sexual identity management process and substance use of sexual minority workers. Because plurisexual employees (e.g., bisexual or pansexual) often face additional workplace stressors relative to their monosexual sexual minority peers, we also examined the links between plurisexual identity and each component of the self-management model. Participants were 418 full-time sexual minority workers residing in the United States. Results were largely consistent with the self-management model derived in terms of the prediction of sexual identity disclosure in the workplace. Workplace harassment moderated the relationship between identity disclosure and substance use, such that disclosure was linked more strongly to substance use in the context of more frequent harassment experiences. Plurisexuality was negatively related to disclosure self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and level of outness at work. Plurisexual workers also perceived their work climates as less identity-affirming. We consider implications for research and practice, including organizational interventions to minimize sexual minority workers' experience of workplace harassment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Initial Motivations for Engaging in Polyamorous Relationships.

Polyamory is a relationship style in which partners consensually agree to engage in sexual and/or emotional relationships with concurrent partners. Compared with other forms of consensual non-monogamy (CNM), polyamory practitioners tend to report greater relationship satisfaction and less jealousy. However, the unique motivations leading people to engage with polyamory are less understood. Previous research has examined motivations for engaging in CNM relationship styles, in general, but no research has focused exclusively on the motivations of polyamory practitioners. The present study draws on the open-ended responses of 63 U.S. American adults who reported previous or current engagement in at least one consensually polyamorous relationship. Thematic analyses revealed four themes guiding participants' initial motivations for polyamory engagement: values alignment, relationship factors, external triggers, and sexuality. The study's themes are discussed in the context of self-determination theory and situated in the existing body of CNM and polyamory research. Directions for future research provide next steps for examining outcomes associated with specific polyamory motivations.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Gay and Bisexual Prostate Cancer Survivors: Results From the Restore-2 Study.

Background: Equitable cancer survivorship care for gay and bisexual male (GBM) prostate cancer survivors should be responsive to their sexual health needs. Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are higher among GBM compared to heterosexual men across the lifespan. In addition, evidence suggests that GBM will use a variety of strategies to cope with sexual dysfunction that may increase risk for STIs. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of STIs following prostate cancer treatment among GBM and identify risk factors. Methods: In 2019, 401 GBM previously treated for prostate cancer were recruited into the Restore-2 Study. They completed a baseline online questionnaire with items assessing STIs diagnosed since being treated for prostate cancer. Any STI diagnoses was regressed on demographic, clinical, and relationship related variables using binary logistic regression. Results: Forty-five participants (11.4%) were diagnosed with an STI during or following their prostate cancer treatment. The mostly commonly diagnosed STI was syphilis (4.3%), followed by gonorrhoea (2.8%), and chlamydia (2.5%). Four participants were infected with HIV following their prostate cancer treatment. Independent risk factors for STI diagnosis included time since prostate cancer diagnosis (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.10-1.26), nonmonogamous sexual relationship (aOR = 11.23; 95% CI: 2.11-59.73), better sexual function (aOR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), penile injection treatment (aOR = 3.28; 95% CI: 1.48-7.29), and multiple sex partners (aOR = 5.57; 95% CI: 1.64-18.96). Conclusions: GBM prostate cancer survivors are at risk for STIs. Culturally responsive STI prevention should be incorporated into cancer survivorship plans, particularly as men are treated for and regain sexual function over time.

Workplace climate and satisfaction in sexual minority populations: An application of social cognitive career theory.

Workplace sexual identity management has drawn increasing attention in the counseling psychology literature. Disclosing a sexual minority identity at work may lead to greater levels of work satisfaction, but it may also lead to occupational barriers (e.g., lack of advancement opportunities, interpersonal harassment) when disclosing in nonaffirming workplace environments. The present study used social-cognitive career theory (SCCT)'s self-management model with a sample of 214 American sexual minority employees recruited via Facebook to examine the adaptive nature of workplace sexual identity management and its resulting impact on work satisfaction. The present model employed path analysis to hypothesize more affirmative workplace environments lead to greater levels of identity disclosure through the mediating variables of disclosure self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Further, the model posited workplace climate moderates the relationship between sexual identity disclosure and work satisfaction such that work satisfaction increases in the presence of both an affirming workplace climate and employee's decision to self-disclose. Results largely supported all hypotheses and demonstrate continued use of SCCT's self-management model for examining sexual identity management while also highlighting the importance of both an affirming workplace climate and factors that influence an employee's decision to self-disclose. Specifically, the relationship between identity disclosure and work satisfaction was strongest in the presence of more affirming workplace environments. These findings provide support for inclusive workplace policies such as nondiscrimination ordinances in order to maximize sexual minority work satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

The Interaction of Same-Sex Marriage Access With Sexual Minority Identity on Mental Health and Subjective Wellbeing.

Previous psychological and public health research has highlighted the impact of legal recognition of same-sex relationships on individual identity and mental health. Using a sample of U.S. sexual minority (N = 313) and heterosexual (N = 214) adults, participants completed a battery of mental health inventories prior to the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) examining identity revealed sexual minority participants living in states where same-sex marriage was banned experienced significantly higher levels of internalized homonegativity than sexual minority participants living in states where same-sex marriage was legal, even after controlling for state-level political climate. Mental health ANCOVAs revealed sexual minority participants residing in states without same-sex marriage experienced greater anxiety and lower subjective wellbeing compared to sexual minority participants residing in states with same-sex marriage and heterosexual participants residing in states with or without same-sex marriage. Implications for public policy and future research directions are discussed.

Another look at depressive symptoms and antiretroviral therapy adherence: The role of treatment self-efficacy.

Depression has been strongly associated with poor HIV treatment adherence, but little research has explored how individuals manage to follow their regimens despite symptoms of major depression. Using a sample of antiretroviral therapy patients with clinically significant depressive symptoms (n = 84), we examined whether patients with optimal adherence differed from those with suboptimal adherence in terms of the types of depressive symptoms experienced and treatment self-efficacy. There were no significant differences between participants with regard to types of depressive symptoms. Findings indicate that patients with high treatment self-efficacy were more likely to report optimal levels of adherence than patients with low self-efficacy.

Goal Setting and Treatment Adherence Among Patients With Chronic Illness and Depressive Symptoms: Applying a Patient-Centered Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Poor treatment adherence is a major problem among individuals with chronic illness. Research indicates that adherence is worsened when accompanied by depressive symptoms. In this preliminary study, we aimed to describe how a patient-centered approach could be employed to aid patients with depressive symptoms in following their treatment regimens. METHODS: The sample consisted of 14 patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV who reported clinically-significant depressive symptoms. Participant ratings of 23 treatment-related statements were examined using two assessment and analytic techniques. Interviews were conducted with participants to determine their views of information based on the technique. RESULTS: Results indicate that while participants with optimal adherence focused on views of treatment associated with side effects to a greater extent than participants with poor adherence, they tended to relate these side effects to sources of intrinsic motivation. CONCLUSION: The study provides examples of how practitioners could employ the assessment techniques outlined to better understand how patients think about treatment and aid them in effectively framing their health-related goals.