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Mental Well-Being and Sexual Intimacy among Men and Gender Diverse People Who Have Sex with Men during the First UK COVID-19 Lockdown: A Mixed-Methods Study

Edelman, Natalie L., Witzel, T. Charles, Samba, Phil, Nutland, Will, Nadarzynski, Tom (2022) Mental Well-Being and Sexual Intimacy among Men and Gender Diverse People Who Have Sex with Men during the First UK COVID-19 Lockdown: A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, . ISSN 1660-4601. E-ISSN 1661-7827. (doi:10.3390/ijerph19126985) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:103722)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication)
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph19126985

Abstract

This mixed-methods study aimed to explore mental well-being, circumstances and strategies around managing sexual intimacy and risk during the first UK COVID-19 lockdown (Spring 2020) among men and gender diverse people who have sex with men (MGDPSM), commencing while lockdown was in progress. n = 1429 MGDPSM completed the survey and 14 undertook an in-depth interview. Low mental well-being was reported by 49.6% of the survey participants. Low mental well-being was not predicted by relationship and living circumstance, sexual networking app use, or by casual sexual partners. Low mental well-being was associated with more frequent COVID-19 anxiety (OR = 5.08 CI: 3.74, 6.88 p < 0.001) and with younger age (18−24 years OR = 2.23 CI:1.41−3.53 p = 0.001, 25−34 years OR = 1.45 CI:1.04−2.02 p = 0.029, 35−44 years OR = 1.41 CI:1.00−1.99 p = 0.052). The interview participants understood their lockdown experiences as being relative to normalcy, and those experiencing more dramatic changes faced greater challenges. Living with partners was felt to protect well-being. Many participants reported intimacy interruption challenges. The findings indicate that mental well-being is predicted by age and COVID-19 impact, highlighting opportunities for targeting MGDPSM who are most vulnerable to poor mental health. Services that support MGDPSM during COVID-19 recovery efforts must provide non-judgemental and affirming support.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3390/ijerph19126985
Uncontrolled keywords: COVID-19; MSM; gender-diverse; intimacy; mental health; mixed-methods; sexual behaviour; well-being.
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Funders: University of Brighton (https://ror.org/04kp2b655)
Depositing User: Milly Massoura
Date Deposited: 08 Nov 2023 12:29 UTC
Last Modified: 28 Nov 2023 14:56 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/103722 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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