Disclosure of same-sex behavior by young Chinese migrant men: context and correlates

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to explore the disclosure of same-sex behavior by men who have sex with men (MSM) to different groups of people (i.e. family, friends, coworkers, and doctors) and the associated sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors. A self-administered survey was conducted among 307 migrant MSM, aged 18–30, in Beijing in 2009. Most MSM disclosed their same-sex behavior to friends (69%), followed by family (25%), coworkers (25%), and doctors (24%). Factors associated with disclosure to friends included higher levels of perceived stigma, social capital and acculturation in Beijing, and suspecting partner to have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Factors associated with disclosure to family included lower levels of internalized stigma, higher levels of acculturation in Beijing, and both risk and protective behavioral factors. MSM who disclosed to coworkers reported having worked in more cities, living with coworkers, and lower levels of social capital in Beijing. Disclosure to doctors was related to STD infection, sex partner, and sociodemographic factors. Results indicated that selective disclosure by MSM was situational and context-based. Future HIV/STD intervention needs to take into account factors relevant to their selective disclosure to different audiences.

Keywords:

• migrant
• MSM
• China
• disclosure
• social capital
• acculturation

Acknowledgment

The study described in this report was supported by NIH Research Grant R01NR10498 by the National Institute of Nursing Research and National Institute of Mental Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Nursing Research and National Institute of Mental Health. The authors also want to thank Drs Xiaoyi Fang and Xiuyun Lin as well as other colleagues at Beijing Normal University and Beijing Chaoyang CDC for their efforts in survey instrument development and field data collection.