title: Mental health and suicidal ideation among Chinese women who have sex with men who have sex with men (MSM).
abstract: In China, men who have sex with men (MSM) are the fastest growing population at risk for HIV. They face social stigma due to both MSM behavior and HIV. In addition, concern has been raised about the mental health of wives of MSM. In this cross-sectional study, the authors examine the mental health status of a sample of 135 of these women. Participants completed an Internet-administered questionnaire in Xi'an from April to June, 2012. Most were unaware at the time of marriage that their husbands were MSM. Physical abuse was frequently reported; depressive symptom and mental health (Symptom Checklist, SCL-90) scores were significantly higher than those of the general Chinese adult female population. A majority (59.8%) of women reported suicidal thoughts after discovering their husbands' MSM behavior; about 10% had attempted suicide. Multiple logistic regression revealed that women's experience with anal sex was associated with 7.8 times (95% CI: 1.3-65.9) greater odds of suicidal ideation. Also, women who demonstrated mental symptoms on the SCL-90 had 2.3 times (95% CI: 1.04-5.2) the odds of suicidal ideation. These results suggest that wives of MSM have a significant need for mental health care, suicide prevention, HIV education, and social support.
authors.affiliation: a Law School of Central South University , Hunan , China.|b Xiangya Nursing School , Central South University , Hunan , China.
authors.forename: Xianhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: c The Affiliated Hospital of Medical College , Qingdao University , Shandong , China.
authors.forename: Beichuan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: d Department of Dermatology , Qingdao Sanatorium of Shandong Province , Shandong , China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: e Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California , USA.
authors.forename: Anna Liza Malazarte
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Antonio
authors.affiliation: a Law School of Central South University , Hunan , China.
authors.forename: Yunliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: f School of Nursing , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California , USA.
authors.forename: Ann Bartley
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: China; HIV; men who have sex with men; mental health; spouses; suicidal ideation