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Association of recent gay‐related stressful events and emotional distress with suicidal behaviors over 12 months in C hinese men who have sex with men
Author(s) -
Yu Liya,
Li Yanxia,
Liu Li,
Li Shuang,
Na Jun,
An Xiaoxia,
Zhou Yan,
Gu Yuan,
Bi Xuejuan,
Mu Huijuan,
Zhang Rui,
Dong Wen,
Pan Guowei
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12286
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , anxiety , depression (economics) , demography , psychology , odds ratio , population , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , poison control , suicide prevention , economics , macroeconomics , environmental health , sociology
The study was designed to assess the association of gay‐related stressful events (GRSEs) and emotional distress with suicidal behaviors over a 12‐month period in Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods A total of 807 MSM were recruited using a respondent‐driven sampling method from 4 cities in northeastern China. The GRSEs were measured using the Gay‐related Stressful Life Events Scale, depression using the Self‐rating Depression Scale, and anxiety using the Self‐rating Anxiety Scale. Results A total of 26.0% of study participants experienced GRSEs during the 3 months, and their average Self‐rating Depression Scale and Self‐rating Anxiety Scale scores were significantly lower than the national norms. Over a 12‐month period, the prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt was 9.7%, 4.0%, and 3.0%, respectively, each of which is at least 3 to 4 times greater than that of male adults in the general population of China. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that GRSEs significantly increased the risk of suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4‐3.7) and plan (OR = 2.8, 95% CI, 1.3‐6.0). Depressive symptoms significantly increased the risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 3.5, 95% CI, 2.1‐5.8), plan (OR = 4.4, 95% CI, 2.0‐9.6), and attempt (OR = 5.6, 95% CI, 21.94.8). Anxiety symptoms (OR = 3.4, 95% CI, 1.4‐8.4) and cohabitation with a same sex partner (OR = 3.0, 95% CI, 1.2‐7.9) significantly increased the risk of suicide attempt. Discussion More efforts to reduce GRSE are worth investigating as a strategy to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in Chinese MSM.