Diversity of Chemsex Experiences among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results from the French ANRS PaacX Study Using Q-Methodology.

Chemsex is mostly approached through the prism of risk-taking, neglecting the pleasure and social linking dimensions. However, feedback from the field and few studies highlights a diversity of chemsex practices and relationships to chemsex (RtC). Using Q-methodology, we identified the main RtC and t...

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Published in:Archives of Sexual Behavior Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 1129 - 1141
Main Authors: Protiere, Christel, Sow, Abdourahmane, Estellon, Vincent, Bureau, Morgane, Leclercq, Vincent, Grégoire, Muriel, Bladou, Fred, Spire, Bruno, Michels, David, Roux, Perrine, Charpentier, Nicolas, Leclerq, Vincent, Milhet, Maitena, Moudachirou, Khafil
Format: Article
Published: Springer Nature Mar2025
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Mar2025
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        atl: Diversity of Chemsex Experiences among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results from the French ANRS PaacX Study Using Q-Methodology.
      aug:
        au:
          Protiere, Christel
          Sow, Abdourahmane
          Estellon, Vincent
          Bureau, Morgane
          Leclercq, Vincent
          Grégoire, Muriel
          Bladou, Fred
          Spire, Bruno
          Michels, David
          Roux, Perrine
          Charpentier, Nicolas
          Leclerq, Vincent
          Milhet, Maitena
          Moudachirou, Khafil
        affil:
          Aix-Marseille Univ, Inserm, IRD, U1252 SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitementde l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, 19-21 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France
          https://ror.org/05f82e368 Institut Humanités, Sciences et Sociétés, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
          Coalition PLUS, Community-Based Research Laboratory, Paris, France
          CSAPA La Villa Floréal, Aix-en-Provence, France
          AIDES, Paris, France
      su:
        Men who have sex with men
        Risk-taking behavior
        Drug abuse
        Sexual orientation
        Harm reduction
      sug:
        subj:
          Men who have sex with men
          Risk-taking behavior
          Drug abuse
          Sexual orientation
          Harm reduction
      keyword:
        Chemsex
        Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services
        Q-methodology
        Sexualized drug use
        Chemsex
        Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services
        Q-methodology
        Sexualized drug use
      ab: Chemsex is mostly approached through the prism of risk-taking, neglecting the pleasure and social linking dimensions. However, feedback from the field and few studies highlights a diversity of chemsex practices and relationships to chemsex (RtC). Using Q-methodology, we identified the main RtC and their divergences and convergences, to help develop tailored prevention and care programs. Q-methodology enables the exploration of complex subjective structures and provides a multifaceted picture of a phenomenon. In 2019–2020, we asked 126 men who have sex with men living in France and practicing chemsex to rank order 37 statements. RtC were defined through by-person factor analysis and interpreted using a holistic process. Five RtC emerged, highlighting various motivations for practicing chemsex, relationships to substance use and to sexuality, and regulation strategies implemented: (1) From compensation to fulfillment; (2) The pleasure-seeking manager; (3) Between addiction and management; (4) From curiosity to the destruction of sexuality; and (5) From the hope of compensation to disillusion. Respondents all agreed on two statements: the need to first accept oneself as a drug user in order to be able to manage drug use, and the possibility of harm reduction during chemsex sessions. Our results are the first to elicit the main RtC and the intricacies between the dimensions at stake. The five analysis-based narratives derived from RtC might facilitate discussion during interviews or support groups on chemsex, and could serve as a standardized survey tool. Our findings advocate longitudinal studies to identify factors associated with shifting from one RtC to another.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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