Loneliness Among Older Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults: The Role of Minority Stress

Abstract

Past research has consistently found that aging lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) are more apt to suffer from loneliness than their heterosexual counterparts. Data from the 2002 Gay Autumn survey (N = 122) were used to find out whether minority stress relates to higher levels of loneliness among older LGB adults in the Netherlands. We examined five minority stress factors: external objective stressful events, expectations of those events, internalized homonegativity, hiding and concealment of one's LGB identity, and ameliorating processes. The results showed that greater insight into loneliness among older LGB adults was obtained when minority stress factors were considered. Older LGB adults who had experienced negative reactions, as well as aging LGBs who expected those reactions, had the highest levels of loneliness. Having an LGB social network buffered against the impact of minority stress. These minority stress processes added to the variance already explained by general factors that influenced levels of loneliness (partner relationships, general social network, physical health, and self-esteem). Interventions aimed at decreasing feelings of loneliness among older LGBs should be focused on decreasing societal homonegativity (to decrease the amount of negative and prejudiced reactions) and on the enhancement of social activities for LGB elderly.

Iridescent Life Course: LGBTQ Aging Research and Blueprint for the Future – A Systematic Review

“…Broader social networks and supports were also investigated [32, 33, 46]. Social relationships and social networks were assessed for their presence, size, and impact.…”

“…Having a partner and co-residing with that partner were associated with being White [49], younger [47, 59], and female [80]. Loneliness and social isolation, on the other hand, were associated with being male, being single, being less socially embedded, and having a smaller social network [32, 33]. …”

Same-Sex Sexual Relationships in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project: Making a Case for Data Collection

“…LGBT older adults face additional barriers due to physical and social isolation and due to the lack of culturally competent social service providers (Healthy People 2020, 2011; Kuyper & Fokkema, 2010). Some of these smaller studies have been confirmed by probability-based studies of American adults, like the 2003, 2005, and 2007 California Health Interview Surveys (Wallace et al, 2011).…”

How do lesbian and gay people experience dementia?

“…Although individuals were mostly white and middle-class they were drawn from five different nationalities, which provided a broader range of Evidence suggests loneliness may exacerbate minority stress for older LG individuals (Kuyper & Fokkema, 2010); isolated individuals that develop dementia may be particularly vulnerable. This includes those living in residential care where expressions of sexuality may be problematised and LG individuals are at risk of discriminatory treatment (Ward, Vass, Aggarwal, Cybyk, & Garfield, 2005).…”