PS-1-6 The Impact of Being Subjected to Homophobia before and after the Age of 18 Years on Mental and Sexual Health of Men Who Have Sex With Men in France

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to measure the consequences on sexual and mental health of being subjected to homophobia before the age of 18 and at adulthood among men who have sex with men. The secondary objectives are to study the relations between homophobic violence, levels of self-esteem, internalized homophobia and the quality of sexual life. An anonymous original online survey was used. In this study homophobia was described in terms of type, frequency, the aggressor being part of any specific group (family, school), the amount of protection the victim received and the level of fear the victim experienced. Visual analogue scales were used to measure the negative impact of homophobia on sexual and mental health. 342 participants have completed the survey. Homophobia was experienced by 70% of the participants before the age of 18 and by 65% of the participants at adulthood. The age of coming out was significantly lower as the frequency of homophobia was higher (18,9 vs. 21,3 years old if never experienced homophobia). The negative impact on mental health was more important for those having experienced frequent homophobia at adulthood than for those having experienced it before 18 years of age. On the other hand, the negative impact on sexual health was more important if frequent homophobia was experienced before the age of 18. Internalized homophobia was detected in almost 65% of the participants and it was associated with lower sex drive, lower global sexual satisfaction and more frequent erectile dysfunction.