Coping Strategies for Inner Conflicts between Gay Bear Identity and Health Concerns

Gay bear refers to a burly gay man with a hirsute body and face. Chinese gay bear men are highly homogeneous and strictly emphasize a uniform bear appearance; however, obesity is an obvious health issue in this population. This study aims to explore the Chinese gay bear men's inner conflicts between bear identity and health concerns. Eleven Chinese gay bear men including four Taiwanese, two mainland Chinese, two Hong Kong, two Malaysian, and one Singaporean were interviewed. The study used a thematic analysis approach and found three coping strategies including (a) Eat healthy but maintain a minimal bear standard; (b) Eat like a bear but go to gym and take physical exam; (c) Reframe the meaning of being a bear or reduce the need of being a bear. This study expects to increase health professionals' knowledge about Chinese gay bear men's inner conflicts between identity and health and to suggest coping strategies for health professionals when addressing this population's health issues.