A Latent Class Analysis of MSM in Paris identified four distinct classes characterized by patterns of social media use, mental health, and sleep health, suggesting that social media use for sex was common but associated with varying mental health and sleep outcomes.
Key Findings
Results
A four-class model best fit the data characterizing social media use, mental health, and sleep health among MSM in Paris.
Total sample: 580 participants completed the survey; 539 (92.9%) provided complete data for the LCA.
Participants were recruited via broadcast advertisements on a popular geosocial networking application in Paris in October 2016.
The survey was self-administered online in either French or English.
The four classes were identified across three primary constructs: sleep characteristics, mental health, and social media use behaviors.
Results
Class 1 consisted of MSM who used social media for sex and experienced stress and poor sleep.
This class included 97 participants.
Members were characterized by social media use oriented toward sexual encounters combined with adverse mental health (stress) and poor sleep health.
This group represents one of two classes combining sexual social media use with negative health outcomes.
Results
Class 2 consisted of MSM who used social media generally and had good mental and sleep health.
This was the largest class, including 172 participants.
Members were characterized by general (non-sex-focused) social media use alongside favorable mental health and sleep outcomes.
This class suggests that general social media use was not necessarily associated with poor health outcomes in this population.
Results
Class 3 consisted of MSM who used social media for sex and had good mental and sleep health.
This class included 147 participants.
Members used social media for sexual purposes but did not exhibit adverse mental health or sleep outcomes.
This class indicates that sexual social media use was not uniformly associated with poor mental or sleep health.
Results
Class 4 consisted of MSM who used social media for sex and experienced distress and poor sleep.
This class included 123 participants.
Members were characterized by sexual social media use alongside distress (a distinct mental health profile from Class 1's stress) and poor sleep.
This class and Class 1 together suggest a meaningful subgroup of MSM for whom sexual social media use co-occurs with mental health difficulties and sleep problems.
Results
Social media use for sex was the predominant pattern across three of the four identified classes.
Classes 1, 3, and 4 (totaling 367 of 539 participants, approximately 68%) were all characterized by social media use oriented toward sexual encounters.
Only Class 2 (172 participants) was characterized by general rather than sex-focused social media use.
This reflects the salience of geosocial networking and sexual social media use among MSM in this Paris-based sample.
Methods
The study was conducted among MSM in Paris, France, a city described as having a large LGBTQIA+ community and high social media usage.
Recruitment took place in October 2016 via a popular geosocial networking application.
The study used a self-administered online survey available in French or English.
Paris was selected as the study site due to its large LGBTQIA+ community and high rates of social media use.
Conclusions
The authors concluded that findings may inform culturally-tailored interventions and digital health strategies for MSM.
The authors suggest leveraging digital platforms for sleep and mental health promotion in digital communities.
Implications were noted for public health messaging and policy efforts to promote mental, behavioral, and digital health among MSM in France and beyond.
The identification of distinct subgroups was framed as an opportunity to target interventions to those MSM most at risk.
What This Means
This research suggests that men who have sex with men (MSM) in Paris, France, can be grouped into four distinct types based on how they use social media, their mental health, and their sleep health. The study recruited 580 men through a popular dating and hookup app and asked them to complete an online survey. Using a statistical method called Latent Class Analysis, researchers identified four groups: men who use social media for sex and have stress and poor sleep; men who use social media generally and have good mental and sleep health; men who use social media for sex but have good mental and sleep health; and men who use social media for sex and experience distress and poor sleep. Notably, about two-thirds of participants fell into groups where social media was primarily used for sexual purposes.
A key finding is that using social media for sex did not automatically mean worse health outcomes — one large group (147 men) used social media for sex and still reported good mental health and sleep. However, two other groups (totaling 220 men) combined sexual social media use with either stress or distress alongside poor sleep, suggesting that for a substantial portion of MSM, this pattern of social media use co-exists with poorer wellbeing. The general social media users, by contrast, appeared to fare well on both mental health and sleep measures.
This research suggests that public health efforts aimed at MSM should not treat this population as a single uniform group. Instead, interventions and health messaging could be tailored to the distinct subgroups identified here — particularly targeting those who show patterns of sexual social media use alongside mental health difficulties and poor sleep. The authors also highlight an opportunity to use digital platforms themselves as a channel for promoting mental and sleep health among MSM communities.
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C. Shrader, Su Hyun Park, Jenesis Merriman, Melissa J. DuPont-Reyes, Nour Makarem, Dustin T. Duncan. (2026). Hookups, hashtags, and health: A Latent Class Analysis of social media, mental health and sleep among MSM in Paris, France. SSM - Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2026.100615