Citation

Li X, Zhang B, Li Y, Antonio AL, Chen Y, Williams AB. Women Health 2016; 56(8): 940-956.

Affiliation

School of Nursing , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/03630242.2016.1145171

PMID

26813087

Abstract

In China, men who have sex with men (MSM) are the fastest growing population at risk for HIV. They face social stigma due both to MSM behavior and HIV. In addition, concern has been raised about the mental health of wives of MSM. This cross-sectional study examined 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.

Language: en