Assessing psychological resilience and its influencing factors in the MSM population by machine learning

This study assesses the influence of social support, self-esteem, depression, and education on psychological resilience among men who have sex with men (MSM) to inform policy-making. Data were collected from 1,070 MSM via an online survey in Zhejiang and the other 17 provinces, China, covering demographics, HIV-status and psychological factors. Psychological resilience and its influencing factors were analyzed using the Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) decision tree and multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Among respondents, depression prevalence was 28.9%, HIV prevalence was 3.4%, low social support was 12.9%, and low self-esteem was 34.5%. Analysis identified depression, social support, self-esteem, and education as key factors influencing psychological resilience. Depression, low social support, low self-esteem, and education were significantly associated with psychological resilience in the study sample population of MSM. Targeted interventions addressing these factors are essential to improve mental health and reduce HIV risk.