Life Course Perspectives on Black Sexual Minority Men's Health and Quality of Life

This edited volume applies a life course framework to examine health and well-being among Black sexual minority men (SMM), a population that experiences distinct and intersecting vulnerabilities across social and cultural contexts. Although decades of U.S.-based HIV research have challenged myths about inherent risk among Black SMM, significant gaps remain in understanding the full range of their health experiences and trajectories. This book responds by situating HIV prevention within a broader continuum of infectious and chronic disease vulnerability, emphasizing the psychological, social, and historical factors that cumulatively produce vulnerability and resilience. It expands beyond a singular focus on HIV/STI risk to address broader socioecological determinants and health issues across the lifespan. Drawing on scholarship from the United States and global settings, the volume integrates international evidence to generate comparative insights that advance health research, policy, and practice for this population worldwide. The chapters offer a more holistic account of the developmental, cultural, and contextual influences on health and quality of life more broadly among Black SMM. By synthesizing interdisciplinary evidence and advancing life course–informed strategies, the volume offers crucial directions for future research, interventions, and policy. It is an essential resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers committed to health equity and to improving the quality of life and health outcomes of racial and sexual minority men globally.