Associations between Social Capital and Self-Rated Health among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Japan

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are significantly more likely to report poor health compared to the general population in Japan and internationally. Social capital has been observed as an important component of positive health and well-being outcomes among MSM. However, there is limited research investigating how alter sexuality (possessors of actual resources embedded in social capital networks) mitigates health outcomes. In an online survey of 1564 MSM in Japan, we investigated social correlates of poor self-rated health among MSM, including MSM and heterosexual social networks. Multiple logistic regression revealed that poor health was associated with older age, lower education, and part-time and unemployment. Poor health was inversely correlated with bisexual behavior and high MSM or heterosexual social capital. In order to decrease health disparities among MSM in Japan, interventions focusing on increasing social capital among deprived groups, such as those with lower socio-economic status, older MSM, and those whose sex partners are exclusively male, may be effective.

Keywords

• MSM
• self-rated health
• social capital
• Japan