How Might Social Distancing Impact Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Men in Canada?

Brennan, David J.; Card, Kiffer G.; Lachowsky, Nathan J.; Jollimore, Jody; Lachowsky, Nathan J.

doi:10.1007/s10461-020-02891-5

Cited by 75 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…These findings echo concerns about the vulnerability of sexual minorities to depression and negative mental health outcomes 6 , 17 —particularly in times of social distancing, when essential support, intimacy, and shared experience with their family and friends are no longer available. 8 Loneliness is a prime indicator for low levels of well-being and a risk factor for mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, stress, and insomnia. 20 These negative feelings may have driven some MSM to engage in casual sex, despite regulations, while putting themselves and their household members at risk of possible SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Social distancing due to COVID-19 has also limited the support that MSM can receive from their family, friends, and the wider gay community. 8 MSM have disproportionally higher rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. 9,10 They have been living under the threat of HIV for nearly 40 years and have established various risk-reduction techniques to prevent HIV transmission, which complement mechanical barriers and medical advances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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COVID-19 and the Changes in the Sexual Behavior of Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results of an Online Survey

Shilo

Mor

2020

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

109

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Background: Social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may affect the sexual behavior of men who have sex with men (MSM). In early March 2020, Israel imposed travel restrictions and limited social contacts to household members only. The effects of these restrictions on the sexual behavior and mental health of MSM are unknown. Aim: To assess sexual behaviors and mental health of Israeli MSM during social distancing and to compare sexual behaviors before and during social distancing, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were collected through anonymous web-based questionnaires in a popular geospatial application used by MSM between March and April 2020 during the social-distancing period. Outcomes: The dependent variable was casual sex, in violation of social-distancing regulations. Independent variables were demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors before and during social-distancing restrictions, and mental health. Results: Of the 2,562 participants, 1,012 (39.5%) continued to meet new casual sex partners during this period. Being of a younger age, single, and with higher levels of mental distress predicted engagement in casual sex during the social-distancing period. MSM reduced their sexual risk and limited sexual repertoire-in particular, kissing with their sexual partners. Participants also spent more time in dating applications than in the preesocial-distancing period and increased their use of sex phone, webcams, and porn consumption. They perceived the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus to be greater than that of HIV: only 3.2% could imagine themselves having sex with a partner who is infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared with 30.1% in case of HIV, P < .01. Clinical Implications: MSM reduced their risk behaviors during social distancing because of the threat of COVID-19. Casual sex during social distancing was associated with negative feelings of mental distress. Future public health response in the future waves of COVID-19 morbidity should strike a balance between containment measures and the need for social distancing with its possible mental and social burdens. Strengths and Limitations: This is the first study in Israel and one of the few in the world to examine sexual behaviors among MSM during the COVID-19 social distancing period. It involved a relatively large sample, through convenience sampling, which limits causality. Findings should be interpreted cautiously, specifically because COVID-19erelated behaviors and circumstances may change rapidly. Conclusion: The negative feelings of distress due to social distancing should be considered as a potential barrier to adherence among vulnerable populations, such as MSM. Future public health response should strike a balance between containment measures and its possible mental, social, and financial burdens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and the Changes in the Sexual Behavior of Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results of an Online Survey

Shilo

Mor

2020

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

109

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“…Additional research is needed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV. For example, there is some evidence that suggests the social distancing required to prevent COVID-19 may negatively influence the sexual [13] and mental health [14] of LGBTQ individuals and disrupt HIV care [15]. The long-term impacts of social distancing measures will need to be examined to help social and health organizations, particularly those serving people living with HIV, respond appropriately to patient needs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I Feel Almost as Though I’ve Lived This Before”: Insights from Sexual and Gender Minority Men on Coping with COVID-19

et al. 2020

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As communities struggle with how to cope with the health and social consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), sexual and gender minority men living with or affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic have important insights into how to cope with uncertainty, public health protocols, and grief. We recruited sexual and gender minority men using online networking apps from April 18-24, 2020 to enroll a longitudinal cohort. We analyzed baseline qualitative data from openended responses using content analysis to examine how the HIV/AIDS epidemic has helped sexual minority men with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 437 participants who completed the survey, 155 (35%) indicated that HIV/AIDS had helped them cope with COVID-19. Free-response data from those 135 of those participants clustered around four themes: (1) experience having lived through a pandemic, (2) experience coping with stigma, (3) familiarity with public health protocols, and (4) belief in collective action. Based on the experiences of these men, public health approaches centered on resilience and collective action could be particularly helpful in responding and coping with COVID-19-especially if the pandemic persists over longer periods of time.

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“…In only 7 months (December 2019‐July 2020), at least 11 million people have contracted the virus and over 500 000 have died (WHO, 2020). Though its impact is wide, COVID‐19's illness and death tolls are felt most acutely by communities experiencing multiple and intersecting (Crenshaw, 1989, 1990; see also Cho, Crenshaw, & McCall, 2013; Collins, 2015) vulnerabilities—including, but not only, those that are socioeconomic, health, and structural (Brennan, Card, Collict, Jollimore, & Lachowsky, 2020; Perez‐Brumer & Silva‐Santisteban, 2020; Poteat, Millett, Nelson, & Beyrer, 2020). Among those experiencing a compounding of vulnerabilities are sexual and gender minority (SGM) people, which collectively includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Two‐Spirit, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBT2SQIA+) people.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual and gender minority health vulnerabilities during the COVID‐19 health crisis

Gibb

DuBois

Williams

et al. 2020

American J Hum Biol

107

100

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Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is both transforming and ending lives. In only 7 months (December 2019-July 2020), at least 11 million people have contracted the virus and over 500 000 have died (WHO, 2020). Though its impact is wide, COVID-19's illness and death tolls are felt most acutely by communities experiencing multiple and inter

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How Might Social Distancing Impact Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Men in Canada?

Cited by 75 publications

References 13 publications

COVID-19 and the Changes in the Sexual Behavior of Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results of an Online Survey

COVID-19 and the Changes in the Sexual Behavior of Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results of an Online Survey

“I Feel Almost as Though I’ve Lived This Before”: Insights from Sexual and Gender Minority Men on Coping with COVID-19

Sexual and gender minority health vulnerabilities during the COVID‐19 health crisis

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