A qualitative insight into the experiences of naturists perceived stigma of naturism

Abstract

Naturism has been gaining the interest of scholars as the numbers of those engaging in this behavior continue to grow. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that individuals who engage in naturism are being stigmatized. However, current research on this topic is limited and outdated. Furthermore, there are no previous empirical studies that have explored the experiences of individuals who engage in naturism and the perceived stigma surrounding it. The present study addresses this gap in the limited available literature on naturism. Ten participants were recruited via a convenience sampling method for this qualitative investigation. Rich and detailed data were collected using online semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of naturists and the perceived stigma associated with engagement in this behavior. Four themes emerged from a reflective thematic analysis of the collected data: Naturist identity; Naturist community; Social acceptance; In the eyes of the outsiders. The participants’ discourse suggests that naturists experience high levels of perceived stigma and live their naturist identity behind closed doors. The findings of the present study can be utilized as a platform in which to generate more research on the experiences of individuals who engage in naturism and to further identify factors related to the perceived stigma attached to this behavior.