The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
IntroductionChemsex’ is the sexualised use of drugs among men who have sex with men (MSM). Past systematic reviews have primarily focussed on quantitative research exploring the key characteristics and health consequences of chemsex. However, a large body of qualitative literature exists, drawing on...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1422775/full |
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| author | Edward Mundy Alexander Carter Tom Nadarzynski Christopher Whiteley Richard O. de Visser Carrie D. Llewellyn |
| author_facet | Edward Mundy Alexander Carter Tom Nadarzynski Christopher Whiteley Richard O. de Visser Carrie D. Llewellyn |
| author_sort | Edward Mundy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionChemsex’ is the sexualised use of drugs among men who have sex with men (MSM). Past systematic reviews have primarily focussed on quantitative research exploring the key characteristics and health consequences of chemsex. However, a large body of qualitative literature exists, drawing on different theoretical frameworks.MethodsA systematic review and thematic synthesis of the qualitative research on chemsex was conducted with the aim of exploring the chemsex experiences of MSM in the context of substance misuse and addictions, and to reviewing their underlying theoretical frameworks. Six databases were searched, and 43 papers were included in the review.ResultsThe thematic synthesis resulted in four key themes: ‘characterising chemsex’, ‘the context around chemsex’, ‘the chemsex experience’, and ‘harms, saying safe, and stopping chemsex’. Only nine papers explicitly drew on theoretical frameworks, which were broadly divided into two categories: those which drew on psychological theories, and those that framed chemsex as a social and cultural phenomenon.DiscussionThe results of the thematic synthesis add further understanding of the key characteristics of chemsex as well as some of the complex social and psychological drivers which may shape why people have chemsex. Finally, the review highlights the clinical implications and inherent complexities in providing clinical services for those reporting chemsex and the need for greater application of theory to advance our understanding of chemsex and continue to develop appropriate forms of therapeutic support.Systematic review registrationhttps://osf.io/j6k9r/. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-52e3b024a6a24661844df0e0a8598db9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-52e3b024a6a24661844df0e0a8598db92025-02-06T07:10:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14227751422775The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studiesEdward Mundy0Alexander Carter1Tom Nadarzynski2Christopher Whiteley3Richard O. de Visser4Carrie D. Llewellyn5School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United KingdomSussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, West Sussex, United KingdomSchool of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United KingdomCentral and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United KingdomDepartment of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, United KingdomDepartment of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, United KingdomIntroductionChemsex’ is the sexualised use of drugs among men who have sex with men (MSM). Past systematic reviews have primarily focussed on quantitative research exploring the key characteristics and health consequences of chemsex. However, a large body of qualitative literature exists, drawing on different theoretical frameworks.MethodsA systematic review and thematic synthesis of the qualitative research on chemsex was conducted with the aim of exploring the chemsex experiences of MSM in the context of substance misuse and addictions, and to reviewing their underlying theoretical frameworks. Six databases were searched, and 43 papers were included in the review.ResultsThe thematic synthesis resulted in four key themes: ‘characterising chemsex’, ‘the context around chemsex’, ‘the chemsex experience’, and ‘harms, saying safe, and stopping chemsex’. Only nine papers explicitly drew on theoretical frameworks, which were broadly divided into two categories: those which drew on psychological theories, and those that framed chemsex as a social and cultural phenomenon.DiscussionThe results of the thematic synthesis add further understanding of the key characteristics of chemsex as well as some of the complex social and psychological drivers which may shape why people have chemsex. Finally, the review highlights the clinical implications and inherent complexities in providing clinical services for those reporting chemsex and the need for greater application of theory to advance our understanding of chemsex and continue to develop appropriate forms of therapeutic support.Systematic review registrationhttps://osf.io/j6k9r/.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1422775/fullchemsexsexualised drug usepolydrug usesubstance usemen who have sex with menqualitative |
| spellingShingle | Edward Mundy Alexander Carter Tom Nadarzynski Christopher Whiteley Richard O. de Visser Carrie D. Llewellyn The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies Frontiers in Public Health chemsex sexualised drug use polydrug use substance use men who have sex with men qualitative |
| title | The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| title_full | The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| title_fullStr | The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| title_short | The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| title_sort | complex social cultural and psychological drivers of the chemsex experiences of men who have sex with men a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies |
| topic | chemsex sexualised drug use polydrug use substance use men who have sex with men qualitative |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1422775/full |
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