Em primeiro lugar, agradecer ao Prof. Doutor Henrique Pereira enquanto orientador da presente Dissertação, por toda a disponibilidade, atenção e paciência no decorrer de todo o processo e por me ter sempre incentivado a fazer mais e melhor, superando as expectativas que tinha de mim própria. Aos meus pais, pelos sacrifícios que fizeram e fazem todos os dias por mim, para que eu possa ter um futuro risonho. Prometo nunca vos desiludir. À minha irmã, por ser uma fonte inesgotável de motivação. Ao Miguel, por estar presente durante toda a minha caminhada, pelas palavras de carinho e de motivação, por nunca me deixar desistir. Por mesmo estando longe, estar sempre tão perto. À minha família, por todo o apoio que me deram e continuarão a dar. Ao meu Squad-Bárbara, Mariana e Marina-por serem o meu porto de abrigo em todos os momentos. Para sempre. Às minhas madrinhas, por todos os conselhos e por serem a minha bússola nesta aventura. Às minhas afilhadas, por todos os momentos que partilhámos, por todos os sorrisos e por confiarem na pessoa que sou. Aos meus amigos, por estarem presente nos momentos que me trouxeram até aqui. À minha EncantaTuna, por me ter ajudado a crescer durante todo o meu percurso e por me fazer ter algo ao qual posso sempre regressar. E, por último, à Cidade Neve e à Universidade da Beira Interior, por terem colocado no meu caminho tantas experiências, momentos e pessoas incríveis. Nunca serão esquecidas.

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The increase in life expectancy and the percentage of the elderly population have been related to a reduction in quality of life and social interaction due to the biopsychosocial transformations inherent to the aging process. Loneliness is a major risk factor for developing depression, just as depression is an aggravating factor for loneliness in the elderly. Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms are atypical and often include psychomotor agitation, somatic symptoms, and complaints of memory loss. The elderly may end up not reporting sadness and discouragement, however, they may have physical complaints, pessimism, lack of energy, changes in sleep, appetite, in addition to pain and intestinal discomfort. Diseases that affect the mobility and independence of the elderly can contribute to the onset of depression and in some cases can lead to suicide, treatment is essential to prevent the worsening of the disease and tragic outcomes.

IntroductionNegative consequences of social homonegativity and HIV status among older gay and bisexual men in Portugal are still to be documented.ObjectivesThis study seeks to evaluate depression and anxiety disparities among older gay and bisexual men, based upon their HIV status.MethodsThis is a quantitative, descriptive, comparative, and cross-sectional study. Responses were collected from a total of 201 men, with 16.9% being HIV positive, 80.6% identifying as homosexual and 13.9% identifying as bisexual. Participants responded to the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the BSI-18, and the CDRISC-10.ResultsThe sample collected revealed moderate levels of depression and anxiety that were below the average observed among the general population. Older gay men showed higher levels of depression when compared to older bisexual men. Self-esteem was negatively correlated with both depression and anxiety while being positively correlated with resilience. In contrast, depression was negatively correlated with resilience and, conversely, positively correlated with anxiety. Furthermore, anxiety was negatively correlated with resilience. Multiple linear regression models explain 33% of the general variation of depressive symptoms and 25% of the variation of symptoms of anxiety. Regarding comparisons based on HIV status, no statistically significant differences were found between HIV-positive and HIV-negative men.ConclusionsThis study offers a pioneering contribution to the literature on aging and mental health among older sexual minorities in Portugal, giving a voice to older HIV-positive and HIV-negative GBM in Portugal, in order to gain a better understanding of the barriers and obstacles that they face throughout the aging process.