Barriers to belonging: race and class in the spatial socialisation of gay men residing in French working-class neighbourhoods

Homelessness is widely recognized as a pervasive issue. Despite increasing research on factors affecting the health and well-being of people who are homeless, one that remains relatively understudied is the role of romantic and sexual relationships. Given that this population has the same needs for intimacy and closeness as anyone else, it is important to understand how these relationships occur, what barriers exist in developing and maintaining them, and what is their impact. This scoping review aimed to (a) characterize the nature of research that has examined sexual and romantic relationships among people who are homeless and (b) identify and synthesize the findings of studies that examined romantic and sexual relationships among people who are homeless. Of 539 studies that examined sexual or romantic relationships among people who are homeless, 88.87% examined sexual health risk, 11.13% examined sexual victimization, 5.57% examined survival sex, and 2.41% examined consensual sexual or romantic relationships. Of the studies that examined consensual sexual or romantic relationships substantially (n = 13) all used qualitative methods and identified common themes such as love, romance, and emotional support; partner relationships as transactional; barriers to partner relationships; and casual sex and pleasure. Despite the possible benefits of sexual and romantic relationships in the context of homelessness, researchers instead have primarily focused on possible risks associated with sex. We introduce how sexual citizenship can be applied to understand how current practices and policies limit people's civic participation when homeless. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

BackgroundIndividuals with severe mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, often face significant challenges in developing and maintaining romantic and intimate relationships. Despite a strong desire for companionship and sexual expression, these individuals frequently encounter barriers such as social stigma, cognitive issues, and psychiatric symptoms affecting social functioning. Existing research primarily focuses on general social engagement rather than the specific complexities of romantic and sexual relationships. This narrative review synthesizes recent literature (2017–2023) to explore the intersection of SMI with sexuality, intimacy, and romantic relationships among adolescents and young adults.MethodsA narrative review approach was used to examine studies published in English between January 2017 and December 2023. Literature searches were conducted using Web of Science and Scopus, with Boolean operators applied to keywords related to severe mental illness, adolescence and young adulthood, sexuality, and romantic relationships. Inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing intimacy, romantic relationships, and sexuality among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or psychosis. Studies that primarily discussed medical, forensic, or legal aspects without addressing relational or psychological dimensions were excluded. The selected literature was analyzed thematically.ResultsFive key themes emerged: (1) Sexual risk-taking behaviors, highlighting increased vulnerability to unprotected sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and exploitation; (2) Sexual dysfunctions, often related to psychiatric symptoms and medication side effects; (3) Personal and relational resources, including the role of self-esteem, social cognition, and relationship quality in supporting romantic engagement; (4) Social stigma, which impacts self-perception, desirability, and access to relationships; and (5) Sexual orientation and gender identity, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ + individuals with SMI, who experience compounded stigma and relational difficulties.ConclusionsThis review highlights the unmet needs for intimacy, love, and sexual expression among individuals diagnosed with SMI and the significant barriers they face. Findings suggest that psychosocial interventions, comprehensive sexual education, and stigma reduction strategies are essential for improving relationship opportunities and overall well-being. Future research should focus on lived experiences and explore tailored interventions to support romantic and sexual relationships in this population.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-025-07224-1.

Introduction Narcolepsy typically begins during adolescence/young adulthood – a crucial period for developing relationships. As symptoms would be expected to impact social interactions, we studied how narcolepsy impacts social, romantic, and sexual relationships in young adults. Methods Young adults (18–39 years; N=262) with a self-confirmed narcolepsy diagnosis were recruited through national narcolepsy patient organizations. Participants completed an online survey, including open-ended questions, to evaluate their social, romantic, and sexual relationships and communication with medical providers. Results Participants (mean=28.5 years old; SD=5.6) were primarily female (87%), White/Caucasian (92%), employed (75%), and had Narcolepsy Type I (56%). All participants indicated that narcolepsy made social life or entering relationships somewhat or a lot more difficult. Rates of cohabitation and marriage were comparable to nationally representative samples. On the Couples Satisfaction Index, most participants reported feeling satisfied with their romantic relationships (mean=15.8; SD=4.3). On the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, participants reported receiving greater support from their significant others (mean=4.5; SD=1.4) compared to both family (mean=3.7; SD=1.5; p<.05) and friends (mean=3.9; SD=1.4; p<.05). There was no difference between family and friends (p>.05). Eighty-percent of participants indicated that narcolepsy impacted their sex life, including experiencing cataplexy or falling asleep during sex. Few participants indicated that their providers asked about their social (31%) and sex life (10%). In contrast, 73% of participants wanted providers to ask about social life and 45% wanted providers to ask about sex life. Conclusion Narcolepsy substantially impacts social functioning in young adults. They often prioritize the development of a single, meaningful romantic relationship as their disorder makes sustaining more social relationships challenging (“I do not go out and socialize at all, but spend all my time at home nurturing my romantic relationship because it’s the most important to me”). At a time of sexual development, there are considerable implications of narcolepsy symptoms on their sexual experiences. Though many participants were interested in discussing their social, romantic, and sexual relationships with medical providers, only a small proportion of providers inquire. Effective treatment of narcolepsy in young adults should include support for the impact of the disorder on relationship health. Support (if any) Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

Adolescent psychological problems have often been associated with subsequent depression that contributes to the global disease burden. We propose initial levels of psychological distress and subsequent changes over the period between late adolescence and young adulthood are partly a consequence of adolescent self-esteem and parental distress, both of which may be at least as influential as teen involvement in romantic and sexual relationships. Data were from longitudinal surveys of Taiwanese adolescents at age 16 with three follow-ups over a 6-year time period (n = 2314). Psychological distress was assessed by Symptom Checklist-90 Revised. Growth curve models were used to predict the relationships between adolescent self-esteem, parental distress, and trajectories of adolescent distress, after taking early involvement in romantic and sexual relationships, risky behaviors, and influence of peers, school, and family into account. After a wide range of adjustments, the multivariate analyses indicated that positive self-esteem was associated with diminished initial levels of psychological distress in adolescents (β = −0.04, p < 0.05) and also ameliorates their psychological distress over time (β = −0.01, p < 0.01). In contrast, parental distress was not significantly associated with initial measurement of adolescent distress, but parental distress did exacerbate adolescent distress over time (β = 0.01, p < 0.001). In addition, living with both biological parents and having a high level of family cohesion were associated with lower levels of psychological distress. Early involvement in sexual and romantic relationships and risky behaviors of adolescents and their close friends were strongly related to higher levels of psychological distress. These results underscore the importance of an integrated psychosocial perspective. Policies and educational interventions aimed at promoting adolescent psychological well-being are recommended.

Typically, "non-romantic" sexual relationships are assumed to be casual; however, the emotional and social distinctions between romantic and non-romantic contexts are not well understood, particularly in adolescence. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) was used to compare shared emotional (e.g., telling partner that they love her/him) and social (e.g., going out in a group) activities within romantic and non-romantic sexual relationships. Adolescents who reported exclusively romantic sexual relationships (n=1,891) shared more emotional, but not social, activities with their partners than adolescents who were in non-romantic sexual relationships (n=315; small effect size, r=.07-.13), akin to adolescents who experienced both relationship types (n=519; small-to-medium effect size, r=.18-.38). Girls shared more emotional and social activities with their partners than boys when in romantic relationships (small effect size, r=.06-.10); there were no significant gender differences within non-romantic sexual relationships. Findings suggest that gendered scripts remain for sexual relationships that are romantic but not for those that are non-romantic. Notably, for the majority of adolescents, non-romantic relationships still held many emotional and social dimensions typical of romantic relationships and differences between relationship types were small. Although non-romantic relationships were less intimate than romantic sexual relationships, there was remarkable heterogeneity within this relationship type. Caution is advised when working with adolescents engaged in "casual" sexual relationships. Understanding the complexity of adolescent sexual relationships is critical for the advancement of effective sex education programming.

In China, “fourth love” is a term to describe a particular form of intimacy. In a narrow sense, it describes a sexual act in which a woman uses a strap-on dildo to penetrate a man’s anus, an act known as pegging. The purpose of this study was to examine whether power dynamics exist not only in sexual relationships but also in romantic relationships within the fourth love community. The research sample comprised 529 individuals in the fourth love group (197 males and 332 females) and 337 individuals in the non-fourth love group (150 males and 187 females). The study revealed that the core elements of perceived fourth love criteria – including pegging, romantic relationship, female dominance, and heterosexual identity – were strongly supported by the fourth love group. Notably, the aspect of romantic relationships received the highest level of agreement. Fourth love relationships exhibited a female-dominated model of sexual and romantic interactions. Specifically, women reported a substantial increase in power perception (d = 1.94, p < .001), whereas men tended to attribute greater power to their partners during sexual behaviors (d = 2.56, p < .001). Women significantly assumed more dominant and controlling roles (d = 0.57, p < .001), while men demonstrated greater dependence within romantic relationships (d = 1.72, p < .001). This study reveals fourth love as a unique pattern of intimacy, with women assuming a dominant role in both sexual and romantic interactions. This pattern challenges traditional gender roles and offers new perspectives on understanding gender, power, and intimacy.

In this volume, Romance and Sex in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Risks and Opportunities, top scholars in the field of family research examine the nature and origin of adolescents&#8217; contemporary patterns of sexual and romantic relationships, spanning such diverse topics as the evolutionary roots of these behaviors, as well as policies and programs that represent best practices for addressing these issues in schools and communities. The text offers interdisciplinary expertise from scholars of psychology, social work, sociology, demography, economics, human development and family studies, and public policy.&nbsp;Adolescents and young adults today face very different choices about family formation than did their parents&#8217; generation, given such societal changes as the rise in cohabitation, the increase in divorce rates, and families having fewer children. These demographic trends are linked in important ways and provide a backdrop against which adolescents and emerging adults form and maintain romantic and sexual relationships. &nbsp;Editors Crouter and Booth address such questions as:*What are the ways in which early family and peer relationships give rise to romantic relationships in the late adolescent and early adult years?*How do early romantic and sexual relationships influence individuals&#8217; subsequent development and life choices, including family formation?*To what extent are current trends in romantic and sexual relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood problematic for individuals, families, and communities, and what are the most effective ways to address these issues at the level of practice, program, and policy?&nbsp;Romance and Sex in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Risks and Opportunities is an enlightening compilation of essays for academicians and upper-lever undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of human development and family studies, sociology, and psychology, as well as for practitioners in those fields who work with families and adolescents. The chapters are accessible to a wide variety of audiences.

Single older adults are often perceived as asexual or uninterested in sexual or romantic relationships, but little research has focused on the desires of older adults, particularly those without partners. This qualitative study focused on the experiences of single older adults on the dating market to understand the role of sexual desires, preferences, and expectations for a population often assumed to be uninterested in or incapable of sexual activity. Based on semi-structured interviews with 50 single women and 50 single men, ages 60–83 (average age of women was 66.8 and 65.6 for men), this study investigated how single older adults framed desires for new sexual and romantic relationships. Results indicated that, despite physical and emotional challenges related to aging, including sexual difficulties, stereotypes about aging bodies, and limited opportunities for finding sexual partners, sexual activity remained an important aspect of developing romantic relationships for many single older adults. Both men and women recognized the impact of aging on sexual function but did not view these changes as insurmountable barriers. Rather, they expressed a desire for intimacy and adjusted their expectations to accommodate physical changes. The findings challenges agist stereotypes and highlights the need to normalize sexual desire in later life, underscoring how romantic and sexual relationships can be desired across the life course. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of older adult sexuality, particularly for those navigating the dating market, and provide insight into how aging adults perceive and prioritize sexual intimacy in relationships.

This study utilized a qualitative approach informed by a narrative perspective to examine 57 young adults’ stories about sexual and romantic relationships. Participants (25 men and 32 women) were asked to define relationships in terms of how they know they are in a romantic or a sexual partnership. Young adults identified the language they use for different types of relationships, their perceptions of the hierarchy of romantic and sexual relationships, and their confusion or uncertainty about their relationship experiences. We discuss implications for clinicians working with young adults and provide suggestions for re-storying the confusing territory of intimate (and sometimes impersonal) interaction.

The current study examines the role of mental illness-related stigma on romantic or sexual relationships and sexual behavior among youth with mental illness (MI), including youths' experiences of stigma, the internalization of these experiences, and the behavior associated with managing stigma within romantic and sexual relationships. We conducted in-depth interviews with N=20 youth with mental illness (MI) (55% male, 16-24 years, 75% Latino) from 4 psychiatric outpatient clinics in New York City. We conducted a thematic analysis to investigate shared experiences of MI stigma and its impact on youth's sexual or romantic relationships and associated behaviors. Our analysis revealed four main themes: 1) societal perceptions of those with MI as partners (societal stigma); 2) individual experiences of stigma within relationships (individual level); 3) internalized stigma of self as a partner (social-psychological processes); and 4) managing a stigmatized identity, of which some of the behaviors directly placed them at increased risk for HIV. We found that just under half of the sample (n=9/20) endorsed all themes, including engaging in HIV/STI sexual risk behaviors as a method to manage a stigmatize identity, which suggests that MI stigma and sexual risk may be linked. We discuss differences by gender and diagnosis. Findings provide new information for providers and researchers to address on the role of stigma experiences in the romantic and sexual behavior of youth in psychiatric treatment. Implications for stigma and HIV/STI prevention interventions are discussed.

Contents: J.H. Harvey, A. Wenzel, S. Sprecher, Introduction. Part I: Introduction. J. DeLamater, J.S. Hyde, Conceptual and Theoretical Issues in Studying Sexuality in Close Relationships. M.W. Wiederman, Methodological Issues in Studying Sexuality in Close Relationships. M.C. Willetts, S. Sprecher, F.D. Beck, Overview of Sexual Practices and Attitudes Within Relational Contexts. J.A. Simpson, C.L. Wilson, H.A. Winterheld, Sociosexuality and Romantic Relationships. Part II: Role of Sexuality in the Formation, Development, and Maintenance of Close Relationships. P.C. Regan, Sex and the Attraction Process: Lessons From Science (and Shakespeare) on Lust, Love, Chastity, and Fidelity. S. Metts, First Sexual Involvement in Romantic Relationships: An Empirical Investigation of Communicative Framing, Romantic Beliefs, and Attachment Orientation in the Passion Turning Point. C. Hendrick, S.S. Hendrick, Sex and Romantic Love: Connects and Disconnects. J.A. Feeney, P. Noller, Attachment and Sexuality in Close Relationships. E.S. Byers, A. Wang, Understanding Sexuality in Close Relationships From the Social Exchange Perspective. S. Sprecher, R.M. Cate, Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Expression as Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction and Stability. Part III: The Dark Side of Sex. W.R. Cupach, B.H. Spitzberg, Unrequited Lust. F.S. Christopher, T.S. Kisler, Sexual Aggression in Romantic Relationships. L.K. Guerrero, B.H. Spitzberg, S.M. Yoshimura, Sexual and Emotional Jealousy. Part IV:Sexuality in Special Types of Couples and Contexts. L.A. Peplau, A. Fingerhut, K.P. Beals, Sexuality in the Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men. F.S. Christopher, T.S. Kisler, Exploring Marital Sexuality: Peeking Inside the Bedroom and Discovering What We Don't Know--But Should! T.D. Fisher, Family Foundations of Sexuality. E.N. Haugen, P.A. Schmutzer, A. Wenzel, Sexuality and the Partner Relationship During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. E.O. Burgess, Sexuality in Midlife and Later Life Couples. K.D. Vohs, K.R. Catanese, R.F. Baumeister, Sex in "His" vs. "Her" Relationships. Part V:Applications and Clinical Aspects. S. Aubin, J.R. Heiman, Sexual Dysfunction From a Relationship Perspective. S.M. Noar, R.S. Zimmerman, K.A. Atwood, Safer Sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections From a Relationship Perspective. A. Wenzel, L.C. Jackson, J.R. Brendle, Psychopathology, Sexuality, and the Partner Relationship. B.W. McCarthy, L.E. Bodnar, M. Handal, Integrating Sex Therapy and Couple Therapy. P. Schwartz, D. Perlman, S. Campbell, Commentaries.

The deviance of women: a critique and an enquiry

Young men often define themselves and their masculine identity through romantic and sexual relationships, and their resulting sexual decisions can affect their successful transition into adulthood, as well as STI, HIV and pregnancy rates. This paper looks at how young Paraguayan men's peer groups, family and masculine identity formation influence their behaviours in sexual and romantic relationships. In Asunción, Paraguay, we conducted five focus-group discussions (FGDs) examining neighbourhood norms in 2010, with male peer groups ranging in age from 14 to 19 years. We then interviewed half the members from each peer group to examine their relationships with friends, family and young women and their beliefs about existing gender norms. Young men described two types of masculine norms, ‘partner/provider’ and macho, and two types of romantic relationships, ‘casual’ and ‘formal’. The language used to describe each spectrum of behaviours was often concordant and highlights the connection between masculine norms and romantic relationships. The perceived norms for the neighbourhood were more macho than the young men's reported behaviours. Norms cannot change unless young men speak out about their non-normative behaviours. This provides evidence for more research on the formation, meaning and transformation of male gender norms.

Romantic relationships and sexuality have been described as crucial developmental experiences during emerging adulthood. One key belief is that many emerging adults are delaying more traditional romantic relationships (e.g., marriage) in favor of more sexually based relationships or avoiding relationships altogether. With increased engagement in sex outside the context of committed relationships, recent research has focused more on the sexual relationships of emerging adults; however, many scholars have shown that there are a variety of diverse pathways that emerging adults take when developing romantic and sexual relationships, and these continue to be an important influence during this period. This chapter discusses current trends in both sexual and romantic relationships of emerging adults, including how these experiences are linked. It also discusses trends related to sex and commitment, stayover relationships and cohabitation, and infidelity during this period. It concludes with recommendations for future research and practice.

The aim of this study was to describe the peer group activities, romantic relationships, and sexual activity and their interrelations of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP). A cross-sectional study was performed in 87 participants (51 males, 36 females; mean age 20 y 4 mo, SD 1 y 3 mo range age 18-22 y) without cognitive disabilities. Ninety-four per cent had spastic CP and 49% unilateral CP, while 78% were classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System level I and 84% at Manual Ability Classification System level I. Peer group activities, dating, romantic relationships, and sexual activity were assessed with an interview and questionnaire. Associations were analysed using logistic regression analyses. The study cohort reported having friends and participating in activities with peers; 71% had experience of dating, 23% had a current romantic relationship, and 38% had experience of intercourse. Young adults with CP had less experience in romantic and sexual relationships than an age-appropriate Dutch reference population. Peer group activities and dating favoured development of romantic relationships and sexual activity. Older age was associated with greater sexual activity. Motor functioning, education level, and gender did not correlate with romantic relationships or sexual activity. Being involved in peer group activities and creating a context to arrange dates seems relevant for young adults with CP to develop romantic relationships and sexual activity.