Shifting Social Context in the Lives of LGBTQ Older Adults

Goldsen, Karen Fredriksen

doi:10.1093/ppar/pry003

Cited by 32 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…When compared with cisgender heterosexual participants, the SGM sample in this study reported significantly younger age. Previous research highlights the particular vulnerabilities faced by older SGM persons to loneliness and social isolation as they age (53)(54)(55)(56). Even greater limitations to social connections and increased isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic might impact older SGM adults more so than those represented within our sample.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Comparing the Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on Mood and Psychiatric Indicators in Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) and Non-SGM Individuals

et al. 2020

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Empirical evidence demonstrates mental health disparities between sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM) compared with cisgender heterosexual individuals. SGM individuals report elevated rates of emotional distress, symptoms related to mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and behavior. Social support is inversely related to psychiatric symptoms, regardless of SGM status. The COVID-19 pandemic—with its associated limited social interactions—represents an unprecedented period of acute distress with potential reductions in accessibility of social support, which might be of particular concern for SGM individuals' mental well-being. In the present study, we explored the extent to which potential changes in mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, worry, perceived stress, positive and negative affect) throughout the duration of the pandemic were related to differences in perceptions of social support and engagement in virtual social activity, as a function of SGM status. Utilizing a large sample of US adults (N = 1,014; 18% reported SGM status), we assessed psychiatric symptoms, perceptions of social isolation, and amount of time spent socializing virtually at 3 time windows during the pandemic (between March 21 and May 21). Although SGM individuals reported greater levels of depression compared with non-SGM individuals at all 3 time points, there was no interaction between time and SGM status. Across all participants, mental health outcomes improved across time. Perceived social isolation was associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Further, time spent engaging in virtual socialization was associated with reduced depression, but only for those in self-reported quarantine. We discuss these results in terms of the nature of our sample and its impact on the generalizability of these findings to other SGM samples as well as directions for future research aimed at understanding potential health disparities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Comparing the Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on Mood and Psychiatric Indicators in Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) and Non-SGM Individuals

et al. 2020

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“…Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ elderly people, in particular, are twice as likely to be in poverty as compared with the general elderly population and to confront more health risks (Wu, 2016). The Gerontological Society of America also found that the LGBTQ+ elderly faced higher risks of ‘social isolation, premature institutionalization, and death’ (Goldsen, 2018, p. 26). As these statistics indicate, segments of the LGBTQ+ population, especially those with other marginalised identities (that is, undocumented immigrants and lesbian and bisexual women), are already at a disadvantage prior to a disaster, and the lack of inclusive disaster policies can further exacerbate these conditions (DeFilippis, 2016; Méndez, Flores‐Haro, and Zucker, 2020).…”

Section: Disasters Exacerbate Lgbtq+ Marginalisation and Inequalitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Queer and present danger: understanding the disparate impacts of disasters on LGBTQ+ communities

2022

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LGBTQ+ communities comprise 16 million individuals in the United States, yet this population is often rendered invisible within disaster policies. Bias in federal disaster response programmes, a lack of recognition of LGBTQ+ families, and the prevalence of faith‐based organisations in disaster relief services together heighten the risks that LGBTQ+ individuals face. This paper describes the ways in which this reality combines with the contextual vulnerability of LGBTQ+ communities, whereby existing inequalities and marginalisation are exacerbated during disasters and in their aftermath. As a result, the immediate trauma of a disaster, such as physical injury or the loss of loved ones or possessions, is compounded in multiple ways for LGBTQ+ individuals, making them less likely to benefit from disaster relief services. To address these inequalities, the paper concludes with a set of policy recommendations to inform prevention, mitigation, and recovery planning, as well as to reduce the impacts of disasters on LGBTQ+ individuals.

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“…LGBTQ2 + older adults are more likely to live alone and less likely to have children as their non‐LGBTQ2+ peers. This further puts this population at a higher risk of loneliness and social isolation and requires specific attention (Disparities, 2011 ; Goldsen, 2018 ). Therefore, the results of this umbrella review could apply to community‐dwelling older adults presenting health and social conditions, but more research is needed to identify what strategies are effective among, financially vulnerable older adults, ethnic and gender minorities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of interventions to address different types of vulnerabilities in community‐dwelling older adults: An umbrella review

Adekpedjou

Léon

Dewidar

et al. 2023

Campbell Systematic Reviews

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Background Frailty, social isolation, loneliness, and poverty may render older adults vulnerable to social or health stressors. It is imperative to identify effective interventions to address them especially in the context of COVID‐19 pandemic. Objective To identify effective community‐based interventions to address frailty, social isolation, loneliness, and poverty among community‐dwelling older adults. Design Umbrella review. Data Source We systematically searched PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, EBM‐Reviews, CINAHL via EBSCO, and APA PsycInfo via Ovid from January 2009 to December 2022. Eligibility Criteria We included systematic reviews or quantitative reviews of non‐pharmacologic interventions targeting community‐dwelling older adults. Data Selection, Extraction, and Management Two review authors independently screened the titles and abstracts, performed data extraction and appraised the methodological quality of the reviews. We used a narrative synthesis approach to summarize and interpret the findings. We assessed the methodological quality of the studies using AMSTAR 2.0 tool. Results We identified 27 reviews incorporating 372 unique primary studies that met our inclusion criteria. Ten of the reviews included studies conducted in low‐middle‐income countries. Twelve reviews (46%, 12/26) included interventions that addressed frailty. Seventeen reviews (65%, 17/26) included interventions that addressed either social isolation or loneliness. Eighteen reviews included studies with single component interventions, while 23 reviews included studies with multi‐component interventions. Interventions including protein supplementation combined with physical activity may improve outcomes including frailty status, grip strength, and body weight. Physical activity alone or in combination with diet may prevent frailty. Additionally, physical activity may improve social functioning and interventions using digital technologies may decrease social isolation and loneliness. We did not find any review of interventions addressing poverty among older adults. We also noted that few reviews addressed multiple vulnerabilities within the same study, specifically addressed vulnerability among ethnic and sexual minority groups, or examined interventions that engaged communities and adapted programs to local needs. Conclusion Evidence from reviews support diets, physical activity, and digital technologies to improve frailty, social isolation or loneliness. However, interventions examined were primarily conducted under optimal conditions. There is a need for further interventions in community settings and conducted under real world settings in older adults living with multiple vulnerabilities.

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Shifting Social Context in the Lives of LGBTQ Older Adults

Cited by 32 publications

References 15 publications

Comparing the Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on Mood and Psychiatric Indicators in Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) and Non-SGM Individuals

Comparing the Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on Mood and Psychiatric Indicators in Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) and Non-SGM Individuals

Queer and present danger: understanding the disparate impacts of disasters on LGBTQ+ communities

Effectiveness of interventions to address different types of vulnerabilities in community‐dwelling older adults: An umbrella review

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