I think, they think, I am: An encounter of the mismatch between experiences and beliefs surrounding naturism

Naturism has been a controversial behaviour for decades, but the current lack of empirical knowledge surrounding naturism can contribute to stigmatising attitudes towards the behaviour and its sexualisation. Attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs surrounding naturism are likely multifaceted, complex, and dependent on factors such as location, law, and religion. Naturism has received sizeable presence in media and this anecdotal evidence suggests that individuals who engage in naturism do suffer consequences. However, this had yet to be tested empirically, nor were there any available measures in which to do so. In the present study, twenty participants were initially recruited for a qualitative exploration of experiences and beliefs towards naturism. Semi-structured interviews revealed rich and in-depth data on the experiences and beliefs of naturists. Six themes emerged from a reflective thematic analysis of the data: Naturist identity; Naturist community; Social acceptance; Through the eyes of the outsiders; Incognizant acceptance; and Beliefs surrounding naturism. Narrative from non-naturists pointed to an unfamiliarity and lack of understanding about naturism and naturists felt no explicit personal stigma towards the behaviour. Furthermore, the participants’ collective voice pointed to a perceived stigma towards those who identify as naturists. The emergent themes were subsequently employed in the development of a Beliefs Abouts Naturists Scale (BANS). The psychometric properties of BANS were verified using exploratory factor analysis. Findings from this study suggest that BANS is a reliable instrument (α = .96) with high face, content, construct, and concurrent validity. The BANS can now be used to further identify factors related to personal stigma attached to naturism in a general population and among diverse communities. Overall, this research raises some much-needed awareness of naturism within the scientific community that will go on to assist in overcoming misconceptions about this behaviour and stigma towards this minority group.