Poor sleep quality indirectly contributes to higher sexual risk-taking by increasing the likelihood of engaging in substance use among LGBTQ+ individuals.
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Abstract
Background: Poor sleep quality (PSQ) is disproportionately prevalent among LGBTQ+ individuals and has been linked to substance use, sexual dysfunction and sexual risk-taking (SRT). However, the interplay between sleep health, substance use, SRT, and sexual dysfunction remains underexplored in diverse LGBTQ+ populations. This study investigates whether substance use mediates the relationship between PSQ and SRT among LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey, using snowball sampling was conducted among 249 LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey. Measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Index of Sexual Risk-Taking (ISRT), Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), AUDIT-C for alcohol use, and self-reported recent substance use. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to assess associations between PSQ, substance use, and SRT. Mediation analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results: PSQ was highly prevalent (80.7%) and significantly associated with alcohol use and chemsex-related substance use (CRSU). CRSU was strongly linked to increased SRT (β = 1.489, p <.001) and served as a significant mediator in the PSQ-SRT relationship (β = 1.045, p = .047). No significant mediation effect was found for alcohol use.
Conclusion: Poor sleep quality indirectly contributes to higher sexual risk-taking among LGBTQ+ individuals by increasing the likelihood of engaging in chemsex-related substance use. These findings highlight the need for integrated public health interventions addressing sleep health, substance use, and sexual risk-taking in LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in settings with rising substance use rates.
期刊介绍：
Frontiers in Psychiatry publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research across a wide spectrum of translational, basic and clinical research. Field Chief Editor Stefan Borgwardt at the University of Basel is supported by an outstanding Editorial Board of international researchers. This multidisciplinary open-access journal is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, academics, clinicians and the public worldwide.
The journal''s mission is to use translational approaches to improve therapeutic options for mental illness and consequently to improve patient treatment outcomes.
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