Correlates of Loneliness in Midlife and Older Gay and Bisexual Men

Jacobs, Robin J.; Kane, Michael N.

doi:10.1080/10538720.2012.643217

Cited by 44 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…In an ethnographic study of Dutch gay men (Aggarwal & Gerrets, 2014), a common reported theme was diminished self-esteem and degraded self-worth that led to chronic feelings of increased vulnerability to social rejection. These maladaptive cognitive biases can lead to increased levels of internalized disapproval of one's own sexual orientation (Jacobs & Kane, 2012) and negative interactions with others (Coyne, 1976) that may perpetuate depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness.…”

Section: Minority Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trajectories of Depressive Symptomatology and Loneliness in Older Adult Sexual Minorities and Heterosexual Groups

Beam

Collins

2018

Clinical Gerontologist

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Objectives: This article examines whether sexual minority men and women experience greater increases in depressive symptoms and loneliness with age compared to heterosexual men and women. Methods: Using three waves of data from sexual minority (n Men = 87 and n Women = 62) and heterosexual (n Men = 1,297 and n Women = 1,362) older adults in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, we used latent growth curve modeling to test whether change in depressive symptoms and loneliness varies across sexual orientation and whether annual household income and family support accounted for this change. Results: Although differences in the growth trajectories of depressive symptoms and loneliness across sexual orientation were not observed, gender differences were. Annual household income and family support more strongly influenced initial depressive symptoms and loneliness in sexual minority men and women than in heterosexual men and women. Conclusions: Trajectories of depressive symptoms and loneliness in older adulthood do not vary by sexual orientation. Economic and family resources may allow sexual minorities to cope effectively with depressive symptoms and loneliness. Depressive symptoms and loneliness are highly correlated constructs that have not been studied in sexual minority status groups. Older adult members of sexual minorities are at greater risk for depressive symptomatology (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, Barkan, Muraco, & Hoy-Ellis, 2013) and loneliness (Jacobs & Kane, 2012; Kim & Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2016). Increased risk of each is notable given that suicide risk, a potential consequence of depression and loneliness (Agerbo, Stack, & Petersen, 2011; Kalmar et al., 2008; Stickley & Koyanagi, 2016), is significantly higher among sexual minority adults compared to heterosexual adults (Björkenstam, Andersson, Dalman, Cochran, & Kosidou, 2016). The majority of sexual minority studies on depressive symptoms and loneliness are crosssectional, which does not address whether longitudinal trajectories vary by sexual orientation. The purpose of the current study, thus, is to compare change in depressive symptoms and loneliness between older adult sexual minority men and women and their heterosexual counterparts.

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Section: Minority Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rates of loneliness, similarly, are higher in Dutch sexual minority groups than in heterosexual groups (Fokkema & Kuyper, 2009). Rates of loneliness in U.S. sexual minority populations are less clear, as studies on loneliness in have not included heterosexual samples (Jacobs & Kane, 2012;Kim & Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectories of Depressive Symptomatology and Loneliness in Older Adult Sexual Minorities and Heterosexual Groups

Beam

Collins

2018

Clinical Gerontologist

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“…Loneliness is also associated with having lower socio-economic status (3,7,9,11). Finally, higher levels of social self-efficacy (feelings of being in control in social situations) (30), and coping selfefficacy (31) are associated with less loneliness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impairments, mastery, and loneliness. A prospective study of loneliness among older adults

Nicolaisen¹,

Thorsen²

2012

Nor J Epidemiol

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Old age is commonly associated with loneliness as loss of partner and friends, retirement, deteriorating health and functional impairments may make way for loneliness. An ageing population may give rise to concern for growing numbers of lonely people. The study explores loneliness among older people 67-79 years old (N=699), living in their own homes, examining whether and how socio-demographic factors, subjective health, and mastery influence loneliness among people with no impairments and people with impairments. The study uses cross-sectional and longitudinal (five-year panel) data from the Norwegian Life Course, Ageing and Generation study (NorLAG), calculating the risk of loneliness at T1, and prospectively at T2. Mastery is the only factor significantly influencing the risk of loneliness both at T1 and T2, both for older people with impairments and for those without impairments. A high level of mastery is related to a lower risk of loneliness. Being married or cohabitant are related to a lower risk of loneliness, among those <em>without</em> impairments both at T1 and at T2, among those with impairments only at T1. Age, gender and subjective health were not independently related to loneliness at any time. The results suggest that the subjective feeling of mastery is important to avoid loneliness, both at T1 and prospectively at T2 in both groups

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“…D'autre part, le sentiment de solitude peut affecter la santé mentale des aînés gais et lesbiennes et il semble que le degré d'homophobie intériorisée peut intensifier ce sentiment (Jacobs et Kane, 2012). La faible intensité de la vie sociale et la solitude ressentie font partie des difficultés fréquemment rapportées par les aînés GLB .…”

Section: Les Facteurs Affectant Négativement La Santé Mentaleunclassified

“…Jacobs et Kane (2012) proposent plusieurs recommandations pour améliorer la formation des intervenants auprès des hommes gais et bisexuels aînés. Selon eux, une meilleure connaissance du contexte sociohistorique dans lequel ceux-ci ont vécu et des impacts de l'homophobie intériorisée, en particulier chez les hommes vieillissants, leur permettrait de concevoir des stratégies visant à changer leurs perceptions et leurs attitudes négatives vis-à-vis de leur orientation sexuelle.…”

Section: Implications Et Recommandationsunclassified

Les enjeux de santé mentale chez les aînés gais et lesbiennes

Beauchamp

Chamberland

2016

smq

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La plupart des gais et lesbiennes aînés ont été marqués dans leur trajectoire de vie par des expériences de discrimination et de stigmatisation reliées à leur orientation sexuelle. Ces expériences négatives peuvent avoir eu des impacts sur leur parcours de vie et sur leur santé mentale. Même si, actuellement, la majorité des aînés gais et lesbiennes ont et maintiennent une bonne santé mentale, il ressort des études que les personnes non hétérosexuelles sont plus à risque de développer certains problèmes tels que l’anxiété, la dépression, les idéations suicidaires et la consommation excessive d’alcool et d’autres substances. Cet article présente les facteurs pouvant fragiliser la santé mentale des aînés gais et lesbiennes, soit la victimisation et l’exposition à diverses formes de préjudices au cours du parcours de vie, la gestion continue du dévoilement ou de la dissimulation de l’orientation sexuelle, le degré d’homophobie intériorisée ainsi que la solitude ; et les facteurs potentiels de protection tels que les capacités de résilience, le réseau social et le soutien social. Cet article conclut sur les implications quant à la prise en compte des besoins propres aux aînés gais et lesbiennes. Des recommandations sont mises de l’avant dans une perspective de reconnaissance des enjeux touchant les aînés gais et lesbiennes, et d’amélioration des services qui leur sont offerts.Most gay and lesbian elders have experienced discrimination and stigmatization related to their sexual orientation in their life trajectory. These negative experiences may have had an impact on their life course and on their mental health. Even if the majority of gay and lesbian older adults actually have and maintain good mental health, studies show that non-heterosexual people are at a greater risk of developing certain difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and excessive consumption of alcohol and other substances. This article presents the factors that may weaken the mental health of older gay and lesbian people, such as victimization and the exposure to various forms of prejudice in their life course, the continuous management of the disclosure or dissimulation of their sexual orientation, the degree of internalized homophobia, as well as loneliness; and also presents the potential protective factors, such as building resilience, social networks and social support. This article concludes by illustrating the implications concerning the specific needs of the gay and lesbian elders. Some recommendations are also formulated with regards to recognizing the issues affecting gay and lesbian older adults as well as improving the services that are offered to them

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Correlates of Loneliness in Midlife and Older Gay and Bisexual Men

Cited by 44 publications

References 66 publications

Trajectories of Depressive Symptomatology and Loneliness in Older Adult Sexual Minorities and Heterosexual Groups

Trajectories of Depressive Symptomatology and Loneliness in Older Adult Sexual Minorities and Heterosexual Groups

Impairments, mastery, and loneliness. A prospective study of loneliness among older adults

Les enjeux de santé mentale chez les aînés gais et lesbiennes

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