Stories of loneliness: trauma, resilience and belonging among older LGBTQ+ adults

This thesis explores the lived experiences of loneliness among older—50 years-old and above—LGBTQ+ adults through a qualitative approach. While loneliness is widely recognised as a significant public health concern, existing research has largely relied on quantitative measures that risk reducing complex, subjective experiences to simplified metrics. This study seeks to move beyond such reductionism by centring the narratives and meanings attributed to loneliness by individuals themselves. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals. Participants were recruited via social media, UK charities, snowballing, community venues and newsletter advertisement. A narrative thematic analysis was carried out. The findings portray participants’ experiences of loneliness as embedded within narratives of trauma, resilience, and belonging. Participants described performing façades to navigate heteronormative social environments, often concealing aspects of their identities to ensure safety and social acceptance. These performative acts were linked to experiences of social disconnection, invisibility, and internalised stigma. Systemic oppression, including heteronormativity and the enduring impacts of historical discrimination as well as individual and community resilience, emerged as central to understanding loneliness in this population. Through stories of queer loss and love, and an absence of choice, findings highlight the lasting effects of the HIV/AIDS crisis, social exclusion, and fractured community ties. Importantly, loneliness was not experienced as a static or singular condition but as a dynamic and relational phenomenon shaped by broader socio-cultural contexts. The search for belonging emerged as a key process, with participants forming connections in the absence of role models. This thesis argues for a reconceptualisation of loneliness that moves beyond binary distinctions and instead recognises its fluid, intersectional, and socially situated nature. By adopting a queer feminist lens and integrating socio-ecological perspectives, the research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of loneliness and calls for more inclusive, context-sensitive approaches in both research and policy.