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

Natalie L. Edelman, T. Charles Witzel, Phil Samba, Will Nutland and Tom Nadarzynski
Additional contact information
Natalie L. Edelman: School of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN1 9PH, UK
T. Charles Witzel: Institute for Global Health, University College London, London NW2 2QG, UK
Phil Samba: Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
Will Nutland: Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
Tom Nadarzynski: School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1B 2HW, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-13

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.

Keywords: MSM; gender-diverse; sexual behaviour; COVID-19; mental health; well-being; intimacy; mixed-methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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