Experiences of Violence and Mental Health Outcomes among Colombian Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender Women
Abstract
Colombia endured 70 years of internal conflict, but despite a peace agreement, violence continues to be significant in the post-conflict era. Violence degrades the health and well-being of affected populations and it engenders psychological distress. Little is known about the impact of violence on the mental health of sexual and gender minority populations in Colombia. This study aimed to examine the frequency and sources of violence among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women and their association with depressive symptoms and substance use. We administered a survey to 942 MSM and 58 transgender women recruited using respondent-driven sampling. We estimated the relationship between mental health indicators and experiences of violence using stepwise logistic and linear regressions, controlling for income, education, age, race, and mistreatment for being effeminate when younger. Respondent-driven sampling adjusted prevalence of any type of violence was 60.9% for the total sample, 59.8% for MSM, and 75.1% for transgender women. Experiences of violence were significantly related to depressive symptoms, binge drinking and drug use for the MSM sample. Violence perpetrated by family members or acquaintances was associated with greater depressive symptoms, and violence perpetrated by partners and strangers was associated with increased binge drinking and drug use. These results provide significant evidence of the negative association of experiences of violence and the mental health of sexual and gender minority people, a vulnerable population in Colombia. This study addresses issues of diversity regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in a Latin American middle-income country.
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Authors Biographies
Maria Cecilia Zea, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. Her research focuses on HIV prevention among sexual and gender minorities in the Colombian context as well as among Latinx in the United States.
Andrew P. Barnett, MA, is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. His research focuses on psychological factors related to health behaviors among SGM youth populations, particularly HIV risk and prevention behavior among young MSM.
Ana María del Río-González, PhD, is an assistant research professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. Her research focuses on understanding social-structural and individual factors that drive health inequities, particularly among Latina transgender women and Latino MSM.
Benjamin Parchem, MA, is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. His research focuses on the mental, physical, and sexual health of sexual minorities, particularly as it relates to HIV prevention. He is interested in using community-based approaches to ameliorate health disparities among sexual and gender minorities through health promotion interventions.
Veronica Pinho, MA, is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. Her research focuses on HIV prevention interventions and psychosocial and cultural factors affecting HIV risk and resilience among Latino and Brazilian populations.
Huynh-Nhu Le is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. Her research focuses on developing, adapting, and evaluating interventions aimed at preventing perinatal depression in low-income and ethnically diverse women, both in the United States and internationally.
Paul J. Poppen, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. His research has focused on gender, culture, and health, especially relevant to HIV/AIDS, in samples of college students and Latino MSM. He has been especially interested in how individuals perceive the risk of behavior, and whether that perception of risk influences change in behavior or the adoption of safer behaviors.
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Article first published online: March 4, 2021
Issue published: July 2022
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PubMed: 33663239
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