Dataset Information

"You Could Tell I Said the Wrong Things": Constructions of Sexual Identity Among Older Gay Men in Healthcare Settings.

ABSTRACT: Older gay men commonly conceal their sexual identity in healthcare settings due to past experiences and expectations of encountering stigma and discrimination in these contexts. Although insights on how older gay men construct their sexual identity in healthcare may help contextualize this phenomenon, this question remains under-explored. Accordingly, we present the findings of a secondary grounded theory analysis of individual interview data, which we originally collected to examine the healthcare experiences of 27 gay men ages 50 and over, to explore constructions of sexual identity among the group. Our findings broadly reveal that older gay men's varying exposure to intersecting systems of oppression, together with their perceptions of different healthcare settings, may be critical in shaping their constructions of sexual identity in these contexts. Our research supports the need for healthcare policies and practices that address stigma and discrimination as salient barriers to sexual identity disclosure among older gay men.

SUBMITTER: Kia H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8727827 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

"You Could Tell I Said the Wrong Things": Constructions of Sexual Identity Among Older Gay Men in Healthcare Settings.

Kia Hannah H Salway Travis T Lacombe-Duncan Ashley A Ferlatte Olivier O Ross Lori E LE

Qualitative health research 20211207 2

Older gay men commonly conceal their sexual identity in healthcare settings due to past experiences and expectations of encountering stigma and discrimination in these contexts. Although insights on how older gay men construct their sexual identity in healthcare may help contextualize this phenomenon, this question remains under-explored. Accordingly, we present the findings of a secondary grounded theory analysis of individual interview data, which we originally collected to examine the healthc ...[more]

PMID: 34875919

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Project description:Indian men who have sex with men are disproportionately impacted by HIV. While prevention efforts to date have focused on men who visit drop-in centers or physical cruising sites, little is known about men who are meeting sexual partners on virtual platforms. This paper explores issues related to sexual identity and sexual behaviors in an online sample of men who identified as gay (n?=?279) or bisexual (n?=?123). There were significant differences in outedness between the two groups, with 48% of bisexually identified men reporting that they were out to "no one" and 82% stating that they present themselves as heterosexual to family and friends. Corresponding rates for gay-identified men were 15% and 41%, respectively (both p?<?.001). Twenty-nine percent of bisexually identified men reported being married, compared to only 3% of the gay-identified men (p?<?.001). Bisexually identified men were also more likely to report having exclusively insertive anal sex (49% vs 30% p?<?.001), while gay-identified men were more likely to report exclusively receptive anal sex (41% vs 13% p?<?.0001). Rates of unprotected anal sex (UAS) in the two groups were similar; however, married men were significantly more likely to report unprotected vaginal sex (76% vs 35%, p?<?.012). Positive attitudes toward UAS and lower self-efficacy were associated with sexual risk in both groups; however, substance use was associated with sexual risk only among bisexually identified men. These findings show that a large proportion of Indian bisexually identified men lead closeted lives, especially in their interactions with friends and family, with the vast majority presenting as heterosexual. The lower condom use with wives may be due to societal pressures to have children. The results suggest that bisexually identified men may benefit from targeted programs and non-directive, non-judgmental individual or couples counseling which emphasizes condom use with both male and female partners.

Dataset Information

"You Could Tell I Said the Wrong Things": Constructions of Sexual Identity Among Older Gay Men in Healthcare Settings.

Publications

"You Could Tell I Said the Wrong Things": Constructions of Sexual Identity Among Older Gay Men in Healthcare Settings.

Similar Datasets

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