Ethnic identity and social support as mediators between childhood sexual abuse and depression among black men who have sex with men

Background: Survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) often experience long-term adverse mental health effects, a trend that has been observed in research focusing on men who have sex with men (MSM), especially Black MSM. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of childhood sexual abuse on depression symptoms among Black MSM through early sexual debut, histories of incarceration, ethnic identity, and social support. In addition, we examine the role of social support and ethnic identity as mediators of depression symptoms. Participants and setting: The HPTN 073 study enrolled and followed 226 HIV-uninfected Black MSM in three US cities (Los Angeles; Washington, DC; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina) from February 2013 to September 2015. Study participants were offered once-daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir preexposure prophylaxis combined with counseling and followed for 52 weeks. Methods: A path analysis was used to examine direct and indirect effects of CSA experiences on depression symptoms through incarceration, early sexual debut ethnic identity, and social support, and to see whether social support and ethnic identity mediated the relationship between incarceration and depression symptoms. Results: Our results indicate that childhood sexual abuse was direct and positively associated with early sexual debut (beta = 0.21, p < .001). Both ethnic identity (beta = -0.14, p < .001) and social support (beta = -0.82, p < .001) were direct and negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Our research underscores the significant impact of CSA factors on the life trajectories of some Black MSM, including experiences such as incarceration, sexual debut, and depression symptoms.