Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2229 - Men and Sex | ||||
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Session: 31.6: Men and Sex (Oral Poster discussion) on Thursday @ 13.30-14.30 in Poster room 2 Chaired by Dana Rosenfeld, Jack Tocco Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Jing Gu - Sun Yat-sen University, China |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Men who have sex with men (MSM) is experiencing a disproportionate burden of HIV and STD, as well as a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, substance use and suicide as a result of chronic stress, social isolation and disconnection from a range of health and support services. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of probable depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation and associated factors among MSM in Hong Kong. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Respondent Driven Sampling method was used to recruit participants. A total of 366 eligible participants were recruited, of which 350 (response rate=95.6%) gave consent and completed the study. Telephone interviews were conducted. The Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depression. The General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD) was used to measure anxiety. Suicidal ideation was assessed by the Suicidal Thoughts item from the Chinese Beck Depression Inventory. Logistic regression models were fit. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Among all participants, 23.4% were probable cases of mild to severe depression (CESD=16), 23.5% were probable anxiety cases (GAD=10), and 19.7% had had suicidal ideation in the past year. Adjusted for socio-demographic variables, factors associated with probable depression included: higher levels of self-stigma (AOR=2.54, 95% CI: 1.57-4.11), enacted stigma (AOR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.21-2.24), social isolation (AOR=2.62, 95% CI: 1.74-3.94), loneliness (AOR=7.81, 95% CI: 4.39-13.89), and lower level of non-MSM social support (AOR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.89-0.97). Public stigma (AOR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.10-2.25), self-stigma (AOR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.35-3.83), enacted stigma (AOR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.35-2.72), social isolation (AOR=2.11, 95% CI: 1.36-3.26) and loneliness (AOR=4.03, 95% CI: 2.35-6.93) were risk factors of probable anxiety, while social support obtained from non-MSM (AOR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.99) was found protective. Adjusted for socio-demographic variables, depression, anxiety, and ever diagnosis of mental health disorder, self-disclosure of MSM status to parents (OR=2.11, 95% CI: 1.16-3.86) and self-disclosure of MSM status to other family members other than partners (OR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.12-5.28) remained significantly associated with suicidal ideation. | ||||
| Discussion: MSM are at very high risk of developing depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Such problems may aggregate the HIV epidemic among MSM in Hong Kong. Stigma, social isolation, and loneliness are risk factors of such problems. We need to increase self-acceptance of MSM status. We also need to pay attention and provide support for disclosure of MSM status to family members, and going out from the closest should not be taken as a simple process. Integrated services for mental health enhancement and treatment are warranted. Further research are required to understand some novel findings such as those related to risk association of disclosure and non-significance between support given by MSM and mental health problems. | ||||
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