Inflammation and minority stress: A moderated mediation model of childhood adversity and mental health in young men who have sex with men

Rationale: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to later anxiety and depression, and inflammation has been implicated as a mediating mechanism. Black and Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM) face higher prevalences of ACEs, anxiety, and depression compared to White, heterosexual peers. Understanding the links between ACEs and mental health is crucial to addressing these disparities. Methods: This study used structural equation modeling to test moderated mediation models examining inflammation as a mediator of the relationship between ACEs and symptoms of anxiety/depression and minority stress as a moderator on the path between ACEs and inflammation. Data was from a community sample of Black and Latinx MSM (n = 246; mean age = 22.6). Results: ACEs were significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety (B = 0.414; p < 0.001) and depression (B = 0.346; p < 0.001), but inflammation did not show a significant mediating effect. Additionally, the interaction between ACEs and minority stress had no significant indirect effect on anxiety/depression. Conclusions: These findings underscore the possibility that inflammation may not represent the global perturbations of stress processes after ACEs at younger ages, particularly among a relatively healthy sample of emerging adults.