The Power of Belonging: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Middle-Aged Men Who Have Sex with Men in Cultivating Social and Emotional Connection

Abstract

Belonging is a fundamental human need that shapes emotional well-being, social connection and mental health, particularly among populations exposed to stigma and exclusion. In South Africa, where constitutional protections for sexual minorities coexist with persistent sociocultural conservatism, the belonging experiences of middle-aged men who have sex with men (MSM) remain insufficiently examined. This qualitative study, grounded in an interpretative phenomenological research design, explored how 25 middle-aged MSM aged 35 to 55 years in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, constructed, negotiated and sustained belonging across family, cultural, community and digital contexts. The data were generated through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The revised analysis is presented through four integrated themes: conditional and cumulative exclusion; rebuilding belonging through chosen networks and affirming spaces; intersectional constraints on recognition and access; and resilience, self-acceptance and belonging as a life-course process. The findings indicate that belonging was not experienced as a stable condition, but as a dynamic and contested process shaped by age, sexual orientation, cultural background, family acceptance, religious norms, socio-economic position, and the inclusiveness of LGBTQ+ and digital spaces. Guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and intersectionality theory, the study highlights the need for age-inclusive, culturally responsive, and community-informed interventions that strengthen social support, mental health, and dignity among middle-aged MSM.