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

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.21.20198929
• Publication Date: 2020-09-23T15:45:15Z
• Authors: Emerson Lucas Sil...; Bruna Isabela Ado...; Igor Fessina Siffoni; Anderson Reis de ...; Jules Ramon Brito...; Isabel Amélia Cos...; Álvaro Francisco ...
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 5. Gender equality; 10. No inequality; 16. Peace & justice; Original Research; 3. Good health

ABSTRACTIntroductionLittle 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 low psychological well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic context.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted online in the entire Brazilian territory (26 states and federal district) in April and May 2020. The participants were recruited using an adapted version of Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). Data were collected using social media and MSM dating apps. We estimated the prevalence, crude prevalence ratio (PR), and respective confidence intervals (CI95%).ResultsOnly 44.4% of the sample presented high levels of well-being. Low psychological well-being appeared associated with the youngest age group (PR: 2.76; CI95%: 1.90-4.01), 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)ConclusionThe well-being of MSM living in Brazil was negatively affected during the social distancing measures intended to control the spread of COVID-19.Policy ImplicationsPlanning and implementing public policies and actions to promote psychological well-being are needed to improve MSM’s resilience through the adoption of safe strategies and behavior.