Health and life satisfaction for Chinese gay men in Guangzhou, China / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective:To understand Chinese gay men's health and life satisfaction in Guanzhou,and to analyze the main factors for life satisfaction.Methods:Male gay participants were recruited through respondent-driven sampling and faceto-face investigations with self-administered questionnaires,including a general demographic questionnaire,a suicide questionnaire,the Depression-Anxiety Stress Scale,the Self-Stigma Scale,the Perceived Social Support Scale,the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale,and the Satisfaction with Life Scale.Results:Surveys were successfully conducted for 420 gay men.High levels of depression,anxiety,and stress were observed among the respondents.A total of 29.3％ had suicidal tendency in the past year,36.5％ experienced dating violence,39.2％ had homosexual sex without protection in the past 6 months,and 14.0％ were infected with at least one type of infection of sexually transmitted diseases.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gay men who felt highly satisfied with life exhibited low levels of self-stigma,high self-esteem,and low levels of depression.Moreover,they did not suffer dating violence and playing passive sex roles.Conclusion:The survey confirmed that gay men in Guangzhou,China,have poor health and lower life satisfaction levels.Self-stigma,self-esteem,sex roles,depression,and dating violence are the main factors that influence the life satisfaction of them.