Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2025

Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement PMSM, for Investigating Implicit Social Bias
Published on: February 29, 2020
Social networks and loneliness differ between LGBTIA and cis-heterosexual persons: results from a two-wave survey in
Philip Oeser1, Tristan Wellendorff2, Hendrik Napierala2
1Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. philip.oeser@charite.de.
Abstract:
Current research suggests LGBTIA persons to be lonelier than cis-heterosexual persons. While they rely more on friends than on family as support network, their social network and weekly contact to family and friends, as well as the association between the social network and loneliness have not been fully explored yet. The aim of this analysis was to examine differences in the social network between LGBTIA and cis-heterosexual persons in Germany, and how these differences affect loneliness. Data was collected through an online survey conducted in two independent waves in March/April 2020 and in January/February 2021. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine the influence of the social network on loneliness. Of 6784 participants, 5442 identified as LGBTIA. Weekly contact to family was lower in the LGBTIA group than in cis-heterosexuals. LGBTIA were less likely to be in a relationship. Identifying as LGBTIA increased social and emotional loneliness. Differences in social network partly explained the risk for social loneliness of LGBTIA persons and, to a lower degree, the risk for emotional loneliness. We encourage health care professionals to inquire about sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationship status to raise awareness for feelings of loneliness and related health problems.
More Related Videos
11:13The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
08:53Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Relationship Formation
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Surveys
Horney's Sociocultural Approach
Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test for Median of Single Population