Univariate and multivariable analyses for factors associated with engaging in chemsex in the past 12 months compared with other sexualised drug use
Univariate | Adjusted model | ||||||
MSM engaged in other sexualised drug use (n=570) | MSM engaged in chemsex (n=99) | Odds Ratio (95% CI) | adjusted Odds Ratio (95% CI) | ||||
n or mean | % or SD | n or mean | % or SD | Row % | |||
Sexuality | |||||||
Homosexual | 497 | 87% | 90 | 91% | 15 | Ref | |
Bisexual | 40 | 7% | 4 | 4% | 9 | 0.55 (0.19 to 1.58) | |
Queer | 23 | 4% | 3 | 3% | 12 | 0.72 (0.21 to 2.45) | |
Age group | |||||||
18–24 | 154 | 27% | 20 | 20% | 11 | Ref | |
25–34 | 198 | 35% | 42 | 42% | 18 | 1.63 (0.92 to 2.90) | |
35–49 | 152 | 27% | 34 | 34% | 18 | 1.72 (0.95 to 3.13) | |
≥50 | 65 | 11% | 3 | 3% | 4 | 0.36 (0.10 to 1.24) | |
Ethnicity | |||||||
White | 548 | 96% | 89 | 90% | 14 | Ref | |
Person of colour | 22 | 4% | 10 | 10% | 31 | 2.80 (1.28 to 6.11)* | |
Country of birth | |||||||
UK | 497 | 87% | 80 | 81% | 14 | Ref | Ref |
Not UK | 57 | 10% | 19 | 19% | 25 | 2.07 (1.17 to 3.66)* | 2.02 (1.05 to 3.86)* |
Education | |||||||
University or higher | 337 | 59% | 64 | 65% | 16 | Ref | |
Qualifications at 18 | 154 | 27% | 22 | 22% | 13 | 0.75 (0.45 to 1.27) | |
Qualifications at 16 or lower | 63 | 11% | 12 | 11% | 16 | 1.00 (0.51 to 1.97) | |
Work status | |||||||
Full time | 356 | 62% | 70 | 71% | 16 | Ref | |
Part-time | 38 | 7% | 6 | 6% | 14 | 0.80 (0.33 to 1.97) | |
Student | 73 | 13% | 6 | 6% | 8 | 0.42 (0.18 to 1.00) | |
Unemployed | 20 | 4% | 4 | 4% | 17 | 1.02 (0.34 to 3.07) | |
Other (sick leave, retired, carer) | 78 | 14% | 13 | 13% | 14 | 0.85 (0.45 to 1.61) | |
Relationship status | |||||||
Living with partner | 202 | 35% | 31 | 31% | 13 | Ref | |
Relationship not living with partner | 105 | 18% | 15 | 15% | 13 | 0.93 (0.48 to 1.80) | |
Relationship with multiple | 14 | 2% | 4 | 4% | 22 | 1.85 (0.57 to 6.00) | |
Single | 250 | 44% | 49 | 49% | 16 | 1.27 (0.78 to 2.07) | |
Population density per hectare | |||||||
<5 | 126 | 22% | 10 | 10% | 7 | Ref | Ref |
5–20 | 120 | 21% | 7 | 7% | 6 | 0.74 (0.27 to 1.99) | 0.59 (0.21 to 1.69) |
20–41 | 139 | 24% | 27 | 27% | 16 | 2.45 (1.14 to 5.26)* | 1.86 (0.82 to 4.21) |
>41 | 181 | 32% | 55 | 56% | 23 | 3.83 (1.88 to 7.80)*** | 2.69 (1.26 to 5.74)* |
Internalised homophobia | |||||||
Low | 373 | 65% | 71 | 72% | 16 | Ref | |
High | 189 | 33% | 24 | 24% | 11 | 0.67 (0.41 to 1.09) | |
Discrimination sexuality | |||||||
None | 294 | 52% | 46 | 46% | 14 | Ref | |
Any setting | 248 | 44% | 49 | 49% | 16 | 1.26 (0.82 to 1.95) | |
Perceived health | |||||||
Fair/good/very good | 499 | 88% | 81 | 82% | 14 | Ref | |
Very poor/poor | 72 | 13% | 18 | 18% | 20 | 1.54 (0.87 to 2.72) | |
Psychological distress | |||||||
Normal | 130 | 23% | 23 | 23% | 15 | Ref | |
Moderate | 131 | 23% | 23 | 23% | 15 | 0.99 (0.53 to 1.86) | |
High | 133 | 23% | 19 | 19% | 13 | 0.81 (0.42 to 1.55) | |
Very high | 172 | 30% | 31 | 31% | 15 | 1.02 (0.57 to 1.83) | |
Diagnosed STI | |||||||
None | 448 | 79% | 63 | 64% | 12 | Ref | |
STI diagnosis | 99 | 17% | 36 | 36% | 27 | 2.59 (1.63 to 4.12)*** | |
Not stated | 24 | 4% | 0 | 0% | 0 | – | |
Attended genitourinary medicine | |||||||
No | 186 | 33% | 13 | 13% | 7 | Ref | |
Yes | 374 | 65% | 83 | 84% | 18 | 3.18 (1.72 to 5.85)*** | |
Not sure | 7 | 1% | 2 | 2% | 22 | 4.09 (0.77 to 21.70) | |
Number of men anal intercourse in the past 12 months | |||||||
0–1 | 175 | 31% | 7 | 7% | 4 | Ref | |
2–5 | 171 | 30% | 19 | 19% | 10 | 2.78 (1.14 to 6.78) | |
6–10 | 105 | 18% | 21 | 21% | 17 | 5.00 (2.06 to 12.16)*** | |
>10 | 119 | 21% | 52 | 53% | 30 | 10.92 (4.80 to 24.87) | |
Number of men without condom anal intercourse in the past 12 months | |||||||
0–1 | 338 | 59% | 23 | 23% | 6 | Ref | Ref |
2–5 | 143 | 25% | 27 | 27% | 16 | 2.78 (1.54 to 5.00)** | 2.15 (0.85 to 5.41) |
6–10 | 49 | 9% | 14 | 14% | 22 | 4.20 (2.03 to 8.70)*** | 4.02 (1.60 to 10.12)** |
>10 | 39 | 7% | 35 | 35% | 47 | 13.19 (7.08 to 24.56)*** | 7.86 (3.38 to 18.30)*** |
Sexual contact without consent in the past 12 months | |||||||
No | 512 | 90% | 83 | 84% | 14 | Ref | |
Yes | 34 | 6% | 7 | 7% | 17 | 1.27 (0.55 to 2.96) | |
Unsure | 15 | 3% | 9 | 9% | 38 | 3.70 (1.57 to 8.73)** | |
HIV status | |||||||
Negative | 443 | 78% | 53 | 54% | 11 | Ref | |
Negative, on PrEP | 50 | 9% | 21 | 21% | 30 | 3.51 (1.96 to 6.29)*** | |
Positive | 35 | 6% | 20 | 20% | 36 | 4.78 (2.57 to 8.87)*** | |
Don’t know | 43 | 8% | 5 | 5% | 10 | 0.97 (0.37 to 2.56) | |
Sexual self-efficacy | |||||||
High | 538 | 94% | 77 | 78% | 13 | Ref | Ref |
Low | 25 | 4% | 19 | 19% | 43 | 5.31 (2.79 to 10.10)*** | 4.52 (2.18 to 9.40)*** |
Taken image or performance-enhancing drugs in the past 12 months? | |||||||
No | 538 | 94% | 91 | 92% | 14 | Ref | |
Yes | 30 | 5% | 6 | 6% | 17 | 1.18 (0.48 to 2.92) | |
Body satisfaction | 41.0 | 12.6 | 42.9 | 13.1 | 1.01 (1.00 to 1.03) | ||
Loneliness score | 5.5 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 1.00 (0.89 to 1.13) | ||
Satisfaction with life | 19.7 | 7.7 | 19 | 7.1 | 0.99 (0.96 to 1.02) | ||
Sexual satisfaction | 42.3 | 8.9 | 43.6 | 7.5 | 1.02 (0.99 to 1.04) |
*P<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
MSM, men who have sex with men; PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis; Ref, reference.