This publication is based on a master’s thesis project conducted by a student at Soa Aids Nederland. The research began with the observation that low-educated young men often do not participate in voluntary surveys on sexuality. As a result, local governments and authorities lack insight into the sexual health issues, needs, and challenges faced by this group, making it difficult to develop effective policies targeted at them. The publication, written in Dutch, was published in Tijdschrift voor Seksuologie (a Dutch scientific journal reporting on sexology), with the student as the first author. The student’s internship supervisor at Soa Aids Nederland also contributed to the writing of the publication. The Abstract can be viewed in English.

Why do young men (not) participate in survey research on sexuality? Gender norms, barriers, and motivations according to lower-educated young men ¹

Lower educated young men appear to be more difficult to reach for participation in sexual health research than women and higher educated men. We examined this group’s barriers and motivating factors for participation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and July 2022. Participants were approached using convenience sampling. The interviews were deductively, inductively and axially coded using coding software.

Participants often come into contact with the subject of sexuality, but do not easily have serious conversations about it. Young men expect low intrinsic motivation from other men to participate in surveys about sexuality. They explain this low motivation by stereotypical character traits of men and a lack of knowledge of or experience with sexuality. Receiving knowledge would be more motivating than a material reward. Trust in the researchers and privacy are crucial for participation.

Participants viewed themselves as a small minority that would participate in health research. Future research could delve deeper into sociological-anthropological theories to explain differences in participation. Trust and reciprocity in the relationship between researcher and participant are important to increase the participation of lower educated young men. Intangible rewards such as knowledge and altruistic motives can increase participation. Participation can be increased by linking surveys to interventions that promote knowledge and skills. To increase the participation of young, lower educated men in sexuality research, a transformative social approach towards masculinity norms which extends beyond the sphere of influence of individual researchers seems necessary.