Black sexual minority women’s Internalized stigma and coping motivated alcohol use: the role of emotional suppression

Black sexual minority women have an increased risk for excessive alcohol use, which has been attributed to their use of alcohol to cope with oppression. Internalized stigma is suggested to be one of the most insidious byproducts of systemic oppression whereby people internalize ideologies of self-hatred. Still, research has yet to examine the association between internalized stigma and alcohol use among sexual minorities of color. This survey-based study investigated the associations between internalized homonegativity and internalized racism with coping motivated alcohol use among 330 Black sexual minority women. Additionally, we explored the role of emotional suppression within these associations. Internalized homonegativity was significantly positively associated with coping motivated alcohol use. The significant positive association between internalized racism and coping motivated alcohol use was strongest at higher levels of emotional suppression. Given the majority of our sample identified as having a masculine gender expression, we recommend research exploring whether the identity-based experiences of masculine Black sexual minority women impact their substance use behaviors. Implications for culturally sensitive and emotion-centered practice with Black sexual minority women are discussed.