Minority statuses and mental health outcomes among young gay, bisexual and queer men in Singapore

Abstract

Minority gay, bisexual and queer (GBQ) men face not only stigma from the general population based on their sexual orientation, but stigma as well based on their race, body type and their gender identity. Results of this study were derived from baseline data of the Pink Carpet Y Cohort Study in Singapore comprising a sample of 570 GBQ men aged 18 to 25 years old. Controlling for key demographic variables, being non-Chinese was associated with depression severity (aPR = 1.21, 95%CI [1.01,1.45]), experienced homophobia (aPR = 1.13, 95%CI [1.05,1.22]) and a past suicide attempt (aPR = 1.77, 95%CI [1.08,2.92]); being non-cisgender male was associated with depression severity (aPR = 1.27, 95%CI [1.05,1.55]) and experienced homophobia (aPR = 1.20, 95%CI [1.09,1.32]); reporting a BMI of 25 or more was associated with depression severity (aPR = 1.20, 95%CI [1.00,1.44]). Reporting one minority status was associated with depression severity (aPR = 1.23, 95%CI [1.05,1.45]) experienced homophobia (aPR = 1.08, 95%CI [1.01,1.15]), and a past suicide attempt (aPR = 1.61, 95%CI [1.01,2.56]), while reporting at least two minority statuses was associated with depression severity (aPR = 1.47, 95%CI [1.17,1.83]), experienced homophobia (aPR = 1.26, 95%CI [1.14,1.40]), and past suicide ideation (aPR = 1.28, 95%CI [1.01,1.62]), compared to participants in the general sample. Interventions are needed to buffer the effects of stigma in this vulnerable group of individuals.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2021.1940414 .

Keywords:

• Minority stress
• stigma
• men who have sex with men
• mental health
• Asia

Acknowledgements

The study team would like to thank all the participants who took part in the study. We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Action for AIDS Singapore and the Pink Carpet Y Team for their collaboration on this project. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all community-based organizations who have helped us in the recruitment of participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, RKJT. The data are not publicly available due to information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Authorship contribution statement

RKJT, DL, SB and WML conceptualized the study; WML provided supervision for the study; RKJT and WML acquired the funding for the study; RKJT and DWJY conducted formal analyses; RKJT, DL, AT, ATy, CT, CK and SB conducted the investigation and curated the data associated with the study; RKJT and DWJY wrote the original draft; All coauthors have reviewed and approved of the manuscript prior to submission.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under the Seed Funding Programme by the Singapore Population Health Improvement Center (NMRC/CG/C026/2017_NUHS).

Notes on contributors

Rayner Kay Jin Tan

Rayner Kay Jin Tan is a postdoctoral fellow at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Daryl W. J. Yang

Daryl W. J. Yang is an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and a Fulbright scholar at Berkeley Law.

Daniel Le

Daniel Le was a manager at Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore at the time this study was undertaken. Daniel is now a HIV program manager at the National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.

Avin Tan

Avin Tan was a senior manager for advocacy and partnerships at Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore.

Adrian Tyler

Adrian Tyler is coordinator for the young men who have sex with men programme at Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore.

Calvin Tan

Calvin Tan is a coordinator for the men who have sex with men outreach programme at Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore.

Chronos Kwok

Chronos Kwok is senior manager for the men who have sex with men outreach programme at Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore.

Sumita Banerjee

Sumita Banerjee is the executive director at Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore.

Mee Lian Wong

Mee Lian Wong is an associate professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.