Mental Health and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Summary
Men who have sex with men (MSM) face a complex interplay of mental health challenges and sexual risk behaviours. Rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among MSM substantially exceed those in the general male population, driven by factors such as stigma, discrimination, internalised homophobia and histories of trauma. These psychosocial stressors often coexist in a syndemic framework, with overlapping conditions amplifying vulnerability and driving behaviours such as condomless intercourse, multiple sexual partners and substance use during sex. Social support, community engagement and access to affirming mental health services can buffer these risks, yet gaps remain in tailored interventions that integrate mental health care with HIV prevention. Globally, the evidence emphasises that addressing mental health is foundational to reducing sexual risk and improving overall wellbeing in this population.
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Mental Health and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mental health and sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Syndemic: The co-occurrence of interrelated health conditions that interact to worsen overall outcomes.
HIV-related stigma: Negative beliefs and attitudes towards people living with or at risk of HIV.
Suicidal ideation: Conscious consideration of self-harm or ending one’s life.
Mediation model: A statistical approach for understanding the mechanism by which one variable influences another through an intermediary factor.
Psychological flexibility: The ability to adapt one’s behaviour to align with values despite experiencing difficult thoughts or emotions.
References
- The global prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Medical Research (2023).
- HIV-related stigma, depression and suicidal ideation among HIV-positive MSM in China: a moderated mediation model. BMC Public Health (2023).
- The relationship between social support and depression among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in China: the chain mediating role of psychological flexibility and hope. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
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