A Longitudinal Investigation of Chemsex and Its Relationship with Depressive Symptoms Among Gay, Bisexual Men and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Taiwan

Abstract

Background This study examines chemsex patterns among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and their link to depression using a longitudinal approach. Recognizing and addressing chemsex is crucial for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care providers, as it supports harm reduction and effective HIV prevention and treatment for GBMSM. Methods From 2017 to 2021, GBMSM at two sexual health clinics completed follow-up questionnaires. We identified chemsex trajectories using group-based modeling and assessed their association with depressive symptoms over two years using multivariable logistic models. Results Among 256 GBMSM, three chemsex patterns were found: “never or rarely engaged” (87.4%), “consistently engaged” (8.8%), and “high, decreasing and reinitiated” (3.8%). There were no significant differences in depressive symptoms between the “never or rarely engaged” group and the other patterns. Conclusions The study reveals diverse chemsex behaviors but does not provide clear evidence linking these patterns to differences in depressive symptoms among GBMSM.