Relationship Breakup Impact on Mental Health and Safer Sex Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United Kingdom

This study investigated the impact of breakup recency and relationship status on mental health (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, possible alcohol dependence, sexual unhappiness, worry about drug use) and safer sex (sexual assertiveness and non-steady condomless partners) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United Kingdom (UK). We analyzed data from 11,763 UK-based MSM in the European MSM Internet Survey. ANOVAs were run to explore differences in mental health across breakup recency (< 6 months, 6–12 months, 1–5 years, and >5 years ago). Logistic regressions (adjusting for age and HIV status) were used to compare partnered MSM on mental health and safer sex with MSM who had broken up in the last 6 months. ANOVAs revealed significant downward trends for anxiety/depression (F(1) = 11.384, G = −0.061, p < 0.001) and alcohol dependence (F(1) = 10.679, G = −0.084, p < 0.001), decreasing as time passed since the breakup. Sexual unhappiness followed a reverse pattern (F(1) = 82.15, G = 0.137, p < 0.001). Logistic regressions showed that compared to partnered MSM, those who broke up within the past 6 months reported significantly higher levels of anxiety/depression (aOR = 1.55, p < 0.001), suicidal ideation (aOR = 1.63, p < 0.001), alcohol dependence (aOR = 1.21, p < 0.001), and sexual unhappiness (aOR = 1.66, p < 0.001). MSM who have recently experienced breakups may face temporary mental/sexual health challenges, warranting targeted support.