Effects of intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying on ART adherence among young Thai men who have sex with men: a causal mediation analysis
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Issued Date
2025-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
14712458
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105001042595
Journal Title
BMC Public Health
Volume
25
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Public Health Vol.25 No.1 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Cheung D.H., Reeves A.N., Waratworawan W., Kongjareon Y., Guadamuz T.E. Effects of intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying on ART adherence among young Thai men who have sex with men: a causal mediation analysis. BMC Public Health Vol.25 No.1 (2025). doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22055-1 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/109314
Title
Effects of intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying on ART adherence among young Thai men who have sex with men: a causal mediation analysis
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is crucial for determining health outcomes and secondary HIV transmission among people living with HIV/AIDS. Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) living with HIV are often challenged by the prevailing experiences of psychosocial stressors such as intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying, which may negatively affect their HIV care engagement. Methods: This study is the first to utilize a prospective cohort design (N = 185) involving YMSM living with HIV in Thailand. We examined the effects of intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying on ART adherence. We also tested the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying and ART adherence. Results: We found that intimate partner violence (AOR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.13, 5.42) and homophobic bullying (AOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.26, 4.48) were associated with subsequent ART nonadherence. Moreover, depression partially mediated 17.4% (95% CI: 0.75%–56%) of the effect of homophobic bullying on ART nonadherence. Conclusions: The results suggest that tailored interventions to optimize ART adherence should address the impact of intimate partner violence and homophobic bullying among YMSM living with HIV. Screening and subsequent treatment of depression alone may not be sufficient to address the effects of intimate partner violence, homophobic bullying, and possibly other MSM-specific psychosocial stressors on ART adherence.