Measuring levels of stress, anxiety, and depression from sexual orientation identity, internalized homophobia, level of outness, and marital satisfaction within the population of men in heterosexual marriages who choose to engage in sexual activities with

Although research into the nature of same-sex sexually attracted men entering heterosexual marriages has been conducted for many decades, direct focus on the mental health of this population is limited and incorporates small samples. This study explored how sexual orientation identity, reported levels of internalized homonegativity, level of outness, and marital satisfaction predict levels of stress, anxiety, and depression within the population of men in heterosexual marriages who choose to engage in sexual activities with other men. Descriptive in nature, the correlational study utilized a confidential, online survey research design with a convenience sample of 529 heterosexually married men throughout the United States and Canada. Results demonstrated moderately strong correlations between negative mood states, most recent sexual activity with another man, whether the men were currently in a therapeutic relationship, marital satisfaction, and two facets of sexual orientation (sexual orientation identity and internalized homophobia). Multiple regressions indicated 20% of the variance was accounted for by global negative mood states, 16% by stress, 13% by anxiety, and 21% by depression. Important to the prediction of negative mood states within this group of men were two demographic variables which displayed significant negative correlations; most recent sexual activity with another man and whether the men were currently in a therapeutic relationship.