Low Psychological Well-being in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) During the Shelter-in-Place Orders to Prevent the COVID-19 Spread: Results from a Nationwide Study

Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo; Bruna Isabela Adolpho de Oliveira; Igor Fessina Siffoni; Anderson Reis de Sousa; Jules Ramon Brito Teixeira; Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes; Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa

doi:10.1007/s13178-021-00550-5

Low Psychological Well-being in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) During the Shelter-in-Place Orders to Prevent the COVID-19 Spread: Results from a Nationwide Study

Sex Res Social Policy. 2022;19(1):391-400. doi: 10.1007/s13178-021-00550-5. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Authors

Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo^{1

2}, Bruna Isabela Adolpho de Oliveira², Igor Fessina Siffoni¹, Anderson Reis de Sousa³, Jules Ramon Brito Teixeira³, Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes¹, Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
² Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
⁴ Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about how sheltering in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 over extended periods affects individuals' psychological well-being. This study's objective was to analyze the factors associated with MSM's (men who have sex with men) low psychological well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic context.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted online across Brazil (26 states and federal district) in April and May 2020. The participants were recruited using snowball sampling and Facebook posts. Data were collected using social media and MSM dating apps. We estimated the prevalence, crude prevalence ratio (PR), and the respective confidence intervals (CI95%).

Results: The prevalence of low psychological well-being found in the sample was 7.9%. Associated factors were belonging to the youngest group (PR 2.76; CI95% 1.90-4.01), having polyamorous relationships (PR 2.78; CI95% 1.51-5.11), not complying with social isolation measures (PR 6.27; CI95% 4.42-8.87), not using the social media to find partners (PR 1.63; CI95% 1.06-2.53), having multiple sexual partners (PR 1.80; CI95% 1.04-3.11), having reduced the number of partners (PR 2.67; CI95% 1.44-4.95), and group sex (PR 1.82; CI95% 1.23-2.69).

Conclusion: The well-being of MSM living in Brazil was negatively affected during the social distancing measures intended to control the spread of COVID-19. The variables that contributed the most to this outcome include social isolation, relationships established with partners, and sexual behavior.

Policy implications: Planning and implementing public policies and actions to promote psychological well-being are needed to improve MSM's resilience by adopting safe strategies and behavior.

Keywords: COVID-19; Gay man; Men who have sex with men; Psychological well-being; SARS-CoV-2; Well-being.