"Skicka PM om du behöver prata": En kvalitativ studie om mäns upplevelser och konstruktioner av ofrivillig ensamhet online
2026 (Swedish)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesisAlternative title
”PM me if you need to talk" : A qualitative study on men’s experiences and constructions of involuntary loneliness online (English)
Abstract [en]
Involuntary loneliness is a social problem that has received growing attention in recent years. Sweden's national public health agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten) describes involuntary loneliness as a health issue which can contribute to both physical and psychological health problems. Statistics from the agency show that the more severe forms of involuntary loneliness are more common among men, particularly those under the age of fortyfive. This study aimed to investigate and analyse how conceptions of involuntary loneliness and masculinity were negotiated and constructed on the Swedish online-based discussion forum Flashback. The study was conducted through a qualitative method and netnographic approach, the data were analysed using discourse analysis and hegemonic masculinity as theoretical framework. The analysis showed that a majority of forum members who experienced involuntary loneliness also experienced feelings of shame, marginalization and mental health problems. Involuntary loneliness could also be understood as a sign or consequence of lacking masculinity. Interactions in the analysed discussion threads were mainly supportive, including offers such as “PM me if you need to talk”.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 51
Keywords [en]
involuntary loneliness, men, masculinity, discussion forum, netnography, discourse analysis
Keywords [sv]
ofrivillig ensamhet, män, maskulinitet, diskussionsforum, netnografi, diskursanalys
National Category
Social Work
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-144556OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-144556DiVA, id: diva2:2034121
Subject / course
Social Work
Educational program
Social Work Study Programme, 210 credits
Supervisors
Examiners
2026-02-042026-01-302026-02-04Bibliographically approved