Interpersonal Sensitivity and Loneliness among Chinese Gay Men: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Dongdong Jiang, Yitan Hou, Xiangfan Chen, Rui Wang, Chang Fu, Baojing Li, Lei Jin, Thomas Lee and Xiaojun Liu
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Dongdong Jiang: School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
Yitan Hou: School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
Xiangfan Chen: School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
Rui Wang: School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
Chang Fu: Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
Baojing Li: School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
Lei Jin: Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, RM 431, Sino Building, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
Thomas Lee: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Xiaojun Liu: School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: To understand the current status of, and factors related to interpersonal sensitivity (IS) and loneliness among Chinese gay men. The Chinese version SCL-90-R was used to evaluate the status of IS, and the short-form UCLA Loneliness scale (ULS-8) was used for assessing loneliness level. Associations between demographics and IS were examined by chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regress analysis. Linear regression was used to assess the correlations between demographic factors and IS and loneliness. Dating practices and venues were summarized by multiple responses. Gay men who screened positive IS was identified in 36%. Age (OR 25–29 = 8.731, 95% CI 2.296 to 33.139), education level (OR college = 0.037, 95% CI 0.046 to 0.911), being the only-child at home (OR yes = 4.733, 95% CI 2.293 to 9.733), monthly income (OR >7000 = 0.228, 95% CI 0.055 to 0.944), numbers of current sexual partners (OR 1 = 0.285, 95% CI 0.129 to 0.629; OR 2 = 0.109 95% CI 0.027 to 0.431) were related to IS. IS was also associated with a higher score of ULS-8 (β = 6.903, p < 0.001). Other variables associated with the score of ULS-8 included: living in a non-nuclear family (β = 0.998, p = 0.020), being a college student (β = −1.556, p = 0.044), having a higher monthly income (β for 3000–5000 yuan = −1.177, p = 0.045; β for over 7000 yuan = −2.207, p = 0.002), having sexual partners (all β < 1, p < 0.001), being the only-child (β = 1.393, p = 0.005). Nearly half of the sample (46.78%) reported that they looked for dating partners on the Internet or dating apps. IS and loneliness are positively correlated. Our study suggests that more humanistic care and social support should be given to Chinese gay men.

Keywords: Chinese gay men; interpersonal sensitivity; loneliness; influencing factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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