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Publication
Loneliness, social support, and adjustment to aging in older portuguese gay men
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Background Older LGBT adults are growing in visibility throughout the Western world. An emerging body of research
reveals that this population is at greater risk for a variety of negative physical and mental health problems compared to the
general population. One such problem is loneliness, which is emerging as a major public health issue around the world.
Unfortunately, loneliness has not been studied in a diverse range of older LGBT people. The purpose of this study was to
assess levels of loneliness, as well as possible demographic and psychosocial predictors, in a population of older Portuguese
gay men.
Methods Using online surveys, 110 older Portuguese gay men (mean age = 63.5) completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale
for Portuguese Older Adults, Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale and Adjustment to Aging Scale, as well as
measures of support from family and friends.
Results Overall, high levels of loneliness were found, particularly among those with lower education levels. Low levels of
family support, friends support and connectedness to the LGBT community were all significant predictors of loneliness in
the regression analyses, but adjustment to aging was not.
Conclusions These findings add to the international literature on the correlates of loneliness among older sexual minorities.
Such findings may inform the development of psychosocial interventions and promote healthcare engagement among older
sexual minorities, which are important steps toward reducing health disparities that affect this population.
Description
Keywords
Elderly Isolation Sexual identity Sexual minority Portugal
Citation
Gonçalves, José A.R., ·Pereira, H., Costa, P. A., Leal,· Isabel &· Vries, Brian de(2020). Loneliness, social support, and adjustment to aging in older portuguese gay men. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00535-4
Publisher
Springer New York