Original Research The characteristics of the vulnerable Chinese gay men with depression and anxiety: a cross-sectional study

Background and objective: Depression and anxiety are the most common mental disorders for human health, especially for gay men. This study aimed to assess the status and characteristics of Chinese gay men who were vulnerable to depression, anxiety, or the comorbidity of the two disorders. Material and methods: A total of 367 samples from a cross-sectional survey conducted between November and December 2017 were included. The Chinese version of SCL-90-R was used to measure the levels of anxiety and depression. The unadjusted associations of demographic characteristics with anxiety, depression, and comorbidity were evaluated by chi-square test. The most predictive factors of the respondents' depression, anxiety and the comorbidity were identified using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and comorbidity were 36.51%, 27.79%, and 26.16%, respectively among gay men. Age, being the only child at home, personal monthly income, sexual orientation disclosure status, and source of participants were related to the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and comorbidity (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Depression and/or anxiety are highly prevalent among Chinese gay men. Prevention strategies should be developed to target the related factors in the gay men population to thwart or slow down the situation. It is also crucial for social and family members to increase the acceptance of Chinese gay men.

Automated summary

The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and comorbidity among Chinese gay men were found to be 36.51%, 27.79%, and 26.16% respectively. Factors such as age, being the only child at home, personal monthly income, sexual orientation disclosure status, and source of participants were related to the prevalence of these mental disorders. Preventative strategies targeting these factors should be developed to address the high prevalence of depression and anxiety in Chinese gay men.