Childhood Threat and Deprivation and Links to Mental Health Behaviors and Health Risk Behaviors Among Young Sexual Minority Men: The Differential Roles of Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2026 May 5;23(5):609. doi: 10.3390/ijerph23050609.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Young adult sexual minority men (SMM) disproportionately experience childhood interpersonal trauma. The Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology (DMAP) framework proposes that exposure to threat (i.e., emotional, physical, and sexual abuse) and deprivation (e.g., physical and emotional neglect) are differentially linked to adult psychopathology. Studies of predominantly heterosexual samples have revealed emotion regulation and mindfulness as mechanisms linking childhood trauma to mental health and health risk behaviors in adulthood. However, the influence of emotion regulation (ER) or mindfulness as associated with exposure to threat vs. deprivation has not been examined among SMM in adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the relationships between childhood threat/deprivation and mental health and health risk behaviors among SMM with ER and mindfulness as mediators.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The sample consisted of 317 SMM (M_age = 26.70; SD = 3.87; ages 18-35; 59.3% White) recruited from the community.

METHODS: Childhood experiences of threat and deprivation were assessed via the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; ER difficulties and dispositional mindfulness were assessed using self-report. Mental health behaviors were assessed using a composite score consisting of self-reported depressive, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and suicidality. Health risk behavior score included the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and smoking history (Y/N).

RESULTS: Threat and deprivation were both positively correlated with mental health and health risk behaviors. Threat was associated with both mental health and health risk behaviors via emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. Deprivation was associated with these outcomes through both ER difficulties and mindfulness.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment aimed at bolstering ER and mindfulness skills among those with histories of abuse and deprivation, respectively, may help reduce psychopathology risk among SMM.

PMID:42196702 | DOI:10.3390/ijerph23050609