The Impact of Internalized Homophobia on Sleep Quality Among Sexual minority Men: A Moderated Mediation Effect.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the mediating role of depressive symptoms in the relationship between internalized homophobia and sleep quality among sexual minority men (SMM), and test whether perceived social support moderates this pathway.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 563 Chinese SMM (age= 29.6 ± 8.1 years) in China. All participants completed measures of internalized homophobia, sleep quality, Depressive Symptoms, Perceived Social Support. Mediation and moderated mediation models were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS v3.5 macro.

RESULTS

The research reported SMM with poorer sleep quality had a higher level of internalized homophobia and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between internalized homophobia and sleep quality. In addition, perceived social support moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the pathways through which internalized homophobia impacts sleep quality is key to improving sleep health of SMM. Targeted interventions should reduce internalized homophobia while strengthening perceived social support to improve sleep health in this population.