2 - (SYM 42) Community Connectedness as a Buffer Against Gay Community Stress and Disordered Eating in Sexual Minority Men

Introduction: Sexual minority men (SMM) report high rates of disordered eating. Recent research suggests that intraminority stressors, such as pressures stemming from within the SMM community (i.e., gay community stress), may contribute to body image concerns and disordered eating. Furthermore, community connectedness has been posited as a moderator that can mitigate stigma-related stressors. As such, it is possible that community connectedness may buffer the effects of gay community stress on disordered eating. The present study examined how gay community stress, body image, and community connectedness interact to predict disordered eating among SMM.



Method: A total of 314 SMM (M_age = 34.56; 49% gay; 89% cisgender; 63% White) were recruited via Qualtrics Survey Panel and completed measures of disordered eating behaviors (binge eating, food restriction, purging, excessive exercise, and muscle building), gay community stress, body image (appearance evaluation and appearance orientation), and community connectedness. Associations between gay community stress and disordered eating were examined via partial correlations controlling for weight-related variables and sociodemographics. Three-way interaction terms were tested in moderated-moderation analyses to examine whether community connectedness and body image concerns influenced the associations between gay community stress and disordered eating.



Results: Partial correlations indicated that greater gay community stress was significantly associated with higher levels of all disordered eating behaviors. Moderated-moderation findings revealed a significant three-way interaction for binge eating, in which high levels of appearance evaluation buffered the association between gay community stress and binge eating, but only when community connectedness was high. Additionally, low community connectedness strengthened the association between gay community stress and both excessive exercise and muscle building, but only among those with high levels of appearance orientation.



Conclusion: Findings highlight the role of intraminority stressors on disordered eating among SMM. Additionally, results suggest a sense of community may mitigate the effects of gay community stress and body image concerns on disordered eating. Researchers and clinicians should consider both intraminority stress and community-level protective factors, such as community connectedness, when designing and implementing interventions for SMM presenting with disordered eating.