COVID-19 led to negative emotions at intrapersonal and interpersonal levels among Singaporean GBMSM, with risky sexual behaviours and substance use emerging as maladaptive coping methods, all exacerbated by closure of 'non-essential' services relevant to the community.
COVID-19 produced negative emotional and psychological impacts on GBMSM at an intrapersonal level.
COVID-19 negatively affected interpersonal relationships of GBMSM, including relationships with family members and partners.
Risky sexual behaviours associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and substance use were identified as maladaptive coping responses to social isolation caused by COVID-19.
The closure of services deemed 'non-essential' during COVID-19 disproportionately affected GBMSM by removing access to important mental and sexual health services.
Pre-existing stigma faced by GBMSM in Singapore worsened the mental health impacts of COVID-19 for this population.
The authors identified a need for policy changes and community-level efforts to improve psychosocial and sexual well-being of GBMSM.
This research examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental and sexual health of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Singapore. Through in-depth interviews with 16 participants, the researchers found that the pandemic caused significant emotional distress, both within individuals and in their relationships with family members and partners. These problems were made worse by existing social stigma that GBMSM already face in Singaporean society and within their own personal networks. The study also found that some participants responded to the isolation caused by COVID-19 restrictions by engaging in higher-risk sexual behaviours and substance use as ways of coping — patterns the researchers describe as maladaptive. At the same time, many services that GBMSM relied on for mental health and sexual health support were shut down as 'non-essential' during the pandemic, leaving people with greater needs but fewer resources to address them. This research suggests that during public health emergencies like COVID-19, the specific needs of marginalised communities such as GBMSM can be overlooked, and that shutting down community health services can have serious unintended consequences for sexual health risk and mental wellbeing. The findings point to a need for policymakers and community organisations to ensure that mental and sexual health services remain accessible during crises, and to address the underlying stigma that makes GBMSM particularly vulnerable when support systems are removed.
Seah X, Tan R, Yong X, Asano M. (2024). Sexual and mental health of Singaporean gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in times of COVID-19: a qualitative study.. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2408816