Unlike heterosexual couples, men who have sex with men (MSM) experience worse sexual health when depressed even in strong relationships, meaning mental health and sex could be more closely related for this population.
This is according to a Northwestern Medicine study that analyzed the nuanced interactions among relationship health, mental health and sexual health among MSM. This study, “Stress and Depression are Associated with Sexual Function and Satisfaction in Young Men who have Sex with Men” by Leiszle Lapping-Carr, Brian Mustanski, Daniel T. Ryan, Cocoa Costales and Michael E. Newcomb, appeared in Archives of Sexual Behavior.
This study involved a racially and ethnically diverse group of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in serious relationships (N = 348). Data were drawn from wave f5 of a longitudinal cohort study, with the researchers examining cross-sectional associations between depression and stress (predictors) and sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and anal discomfort (outcomes) and to what extent these associations were moderated by relationship quality.
According to the researchers, the findings mostly overlap with those found in heterosexual couples: worse mental health is related to worse sexual health overall, and strong relationships can protect sexual satisfaction even when men are highly stressed. But surprisingly, when men are depressed, they report worse sexual health when they are in a strong relationship.
“Men who are in strong relationships may be more upset by having worse sexual health related to their depression — it might feel like they are letting their partner down,” said lead study author Lapping-Car. “It could also be explained by the change from sex in casual relationships being used for a physical connection without a need to engage emotionally to sex being a more intimate act that feels less approachable.”
Lapping-Car added: “We see what we expected: being in a strong relationship seems to help protect against the negative effects of stress on sexual relationships,” Lapping-Carr said. “But some of our results also suggest that the ways mental health, relationship quality and sexual health interact are more complex than we might expect.”
Though the study didn’t look directly at minority stress, Lapping-Carr said it is possible minority stress had an impact on the findings and is important to follow up with future studies.
“Internalized homophobia and experiences of discrimination of course interact with mental health,” she said. “The study’s information is helpful for clinicians as they try to help men presenting with mental health, relationship or sexual health concerns.”
