Loneliness and self-rated physical health among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada
Date
2020
Authors
Marziali, Megan E.
Armstrong, Heather L.
Closson, Kalysha
McLinden, Taylor
Wang, Lu
Barath, Justin
Harris, Marianne
Roth, Eric A.
Moore, David M.
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health
Abstract
Background: Due to stigma and discrimination, gay,
bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM)
potentially carry a heightened burden of loneliness. This
analysis investigates loneliness among gbMSM and its
relationship with self-rated physical health, along with the
mediating effect of depression.
Methods: Participants were recruited using respondent driven
sampling into the Momentum Health Study
(February 2012–February 2015) with follow-up visits
occurring every 6 months till February 2018. Using
computer-assisted self-interviews, measures of loneliness
were assessed using a 6-item Loneliness Scale for
Emotional and Social Loneliness (lonely vs not lonely).
Current physical health was self-assessed (poor, fair, good,
very good or excellent). A multivariable generalised linearmixed
model with a logit link function was used to examine
the relationship between loneliness and self-rated physical
health. We further investigated the mediating effect of
depressive symptomatology on this relationship via the
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Results: Of the 770 participants included, we found that
61% (n=471) experienced loneliness at baseline. Of the
674 (88%) who reported good/very good/excellent
physical health, 59% (n=391) reported loneliness,
compared with 87% (n=80) of those in poor/fair selfrated
physical health who reported feeling lonely. After
adjustment for confounding, loneliness was associated
with poor self-rated physical health (adjusted OR 1.71;
95% CI 1.13 to 2.60). Depressive symptomatology was
found to partially mediate this relationship.
Conclusion: There may be a need for the integration
of social, mental and physical health programming,
targeted towards gbMSM, to alleviate the degree of
loneliness experienced and its co-occurrence with poor
self-rated physical health.
Description
We would like to thank the Momentum Health Study participants,
office staff and community advisory board as well as our community partners: Health
Initiative for Men, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society, and Positive Living Society of BC.
Keywords
Citation
Marzialia, M. E., Armstrong, H. L., Closson, K., McLinden, T., Wang, L., Barath, J., Harris, M., Roth, E. A., Moore, D. M., Lachowsky, N. J., Hogg, R. S., Sang, J. M., & Card, K. G. (2020). “Loneliness and self-rated physical health among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada.” Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 74(7), 553-559. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-213566