Detection Rates of Mental Health Problems Among Sexual Minorities in Mainland China: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Previous studies that have addressed the growing mental health problems among sexual minorities in mainland China, but failed to inform mental health programs and public health policies with consistent detection results. To obtain robust results on aggregate detection rates and moderators of these problems, we performed a meta-analysis of the related Chinese and English literature published before 2022. Ultimately, 305 eligible studies (ndepression = 127, nanxiety = 71, nsuicide ideation = 55, nsuicide plan = 13, nsuicide attempt = 39) were pooled in the analysis. The results revealed “Money boys” and people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) had higher detection rates than general men who have sex with men. Depression was more prevalent in gays than lesbians, and the latter had a higher detection rate of suicide. Detection rates of anxiety and depression among sexual minorities in China were moderated by detection time, measurement tools, and their detection thresholds. Suggested future priorities include developing more targeted measurement tools that consider the living conditions and psychological characteristics of local sexual minorities, enhancing mental health programs for sexual minorities, and devising more practical and effective interventions to prevent and reduce their mental health problems.