Survey investigating mindfulness in MSM who engage in chemsex
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Survey study investigating mindfulness traits in MSM who engage in chemsex
IRAS ID
279332
Contact name
Michael J Rolt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway - University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
Sexualised drug use (‘chemsex’) involves taking drugs for the explicit purpose of prolonging and enhancing sexual experiences. Whilst men who have sex with men (MSM) have reported both positive and negative chemsex experiences, there has been an increase in mental and physical health difficulties associated with prolonged chemsex usage. It is therefore important to understand the psychological factors involved in MSM who engage in chemsex, to inform interventions for those who seek help.
Existing research suggests that feelings of shame and distress are common in MSM, and are thought to be associated with negative life experiences; such as rejection, social isolation and abuse. Shame is also associated with lower levels of sexual satisfaction and an increased dependence on chemsex, with many MSM struggling to re-engage to ‘sober sex’ (i.e. sexually activity where no drugs are involved). Recent research also suggests that increased mindfulness is associated with lower levels of drug use and has also been shown to have a relationship with shame and dysfunctional sexual behaviours in men. As such, this project will explore the relationships between shame, sexual satisfaction, levels of distress and mindfulness within those MSM who engage in chemsex. Also, increased beliefs one’s ability to stop needing drugs (i.e. self-efficacy beliefs) are associated with lower rates of substance misuse relapse. However, research has not yet explored these self-efficacy beliefs in MSM who engage in chemsex.
Therefore, this project will test the following predictions: 1) shame would be negatively related to sexual satisfaction and self-efficacy for initiating sober sex, but positively related to increased levels of distress; 2) mindfulness would be positively related to sexual satisfaction and self-efficacy for initiating sober sex, but negatively related to levels of distress. A further aim is to explore whether mindfulness influences the relationship between shame and sexual satisfaction.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0986
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion