Abstract
The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the experience of loneliness among Israeli gay men in their early and mid-adulthood, ages 30–50 (N = 14). The findings demonstrate three main categories of loneliness that study participants experienced: childhood loneliness as an initial experience of gay identity; loneliness in the context of other gay men, via sexual encounters, friendships, and the use of dating apps; and loneliness in the context of heterosexual society. The findings point to the centrality of the experience of loneliness among Israeli gay men in their mid-adulthood years and emphasize how this loneliness is rooted in socio-cultural and political perceptions concerning hetero-normative as well as gay identities.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2784-2805 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Journal of Homosexuality |
Volume | 70 |
Issue number | 12 |
Early online date | 23 May 2022 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2023 |
Keywords
- Gay men
- loneliness
- mental health
- minority stress
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Education
- Psychology(all)
- Social Psychology
- Gender Studies