Health Disparities Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults: Results From a Population-Based Study

Abstract

Objectives We investigated health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50 years and older. Methods We analyzed data from the 2003–2010 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 96 992) on health outcomes, chronic conditions, access to care, behaviors, and screening by gender and sexual orientation with adjusted logistic regressions. Results LGB older adults had higher risk of disability, poor mental health, smoking, and excessive drinking than did heterosexuals. Lesbians and bisexual women had higher risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and gay and bisexual men had higher risk of poor physical health and living alone than did heterosexuals. Lesbians reported a higher rate of excessive drinking than did bisexual women; bisexual men reported a higher rate of diabetes and a lower rate of being tested for HIV than did gay men. Conclusions Tailored interventions are needed to address the health disparities and unique health needs of LGB older adults. Research across the life course is needed to better understand health disparities by sexual orientation and age, and to assess subgroup differences within these communities.

Prior Military Service, Identity Stigma, and Mental Health Among Transgender Older Adults

“…Our expectation that prior military and identity stigma would be positively related to depressive symptomatology and negatively related to psychological HRQOL was partially supported. Identity stigma was positively associated with depressive symptomatology and negatively with psychological HRQOL, congruent with previous findings on these relationships among transgender older adults (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2013, 2015. Unexpectedly, we found that prior military service was associated with lower depressive symptomatology and greater psychological HRQOL, in contrast to much previous research that has typically cast military service primarily in terms of negative outcomes.…”

“…Identity stigma, the internalization of prevailing societal attitudes and beliefs relative to dominant and stigmatized groups, is a major stressor associated with depression among transgender older adults (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2013). Identity stigma has been characterized as insidious trauma (Szymanski & Balsam, 2011).…”

“…In a sample of veterans, Pittman, Goldsmith, Lemmer, Kilmer, and Baker (2012) found that depression was a significant predictor of psychological but not physical HRQOL. Transgender older adults have been found to have higher depressive symptomatology (FredriksenGoldsen et al, 2013) and lower mental health quality of life (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, Shiu, Goldsen, & Emlet, 2015), than their nontransgender lesbian, gay, and bisexual counterparts, who themselves experience significantly poorer mental health than their heterosexual age peers (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, Barkan, Muraco, & Hoy-Ellis, 2013).…”

“…57, No. S1 associated with depression among transgender older adults (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2013). Identity stigma has been characterized as insidious trauma (Szymanski & Balsam, 2011).…”

Lesbian and bisexual women's gynaecological conditions: a systematic review and exploratory meta‐analysis

“…The health risks and health behaviours of LB women are thought to negatively impact their gynaecological health. These include increased tobacco and alcohol use,2, 3 higher body mass index (BMI),4, 5, 6 and reduced uptake of cervical cytology screening 7, 8, 9. Lesbians are also said to have fewer reproductive behaviours that are associated with protection from various reproductive system cancers than heterosexual women, including use of oral contraceptives, childbirth and breastfeeding 10, 11.…”