The physical and mental health of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual (LGB) older adults: the role of key health indicators and risk and protective factors.
PURPOSE
Based on resilience theory, this paper investigates the influence of key health indicators and risk and protective factors on health outcomes (including general health, disability, and depression) among lesbian, gay male, and bisexual (LGB) older adults.


DESIGN AND METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with LGB older adults, aged 50 and older (N = 2,439). Logistic regressions were conducted to examine the contributions of key health indicators (access to health care and health behaviors), risk factors (lifetime victimization, internalized stigma, and sexual identity concealment), and protective factors (social support and social network size) to health outcomes, when controlling for background characteristics.


RESULTS
The findings revealed that lifetime victimization, financial barriers to health care, obesity, and limited physical activity independently and significantly accounted for poor general health, disability, and depression among LGB older adults. Internalized stigma was also a significant predictor of disability and depression. Social support and social network size served as protective factors, decreasing the odds of poor general health, disability, and depression. Some distinct differences by gender and sexual orientation were also observed.


IMPLICATIONS
High levels of poor general health, disability, and depression among LGB older adults are of major concern. These findings highlight the important role of key risk and protective factors, which significantly influences health outcomes among LGB older adults. Tailored interventions must be developed to address the distinct health issues facing this historically disadvantaged population.
['Fredriksen-Goldsen|Karen I|KI|', 'Emlet|Charles A|CA|', 'Kim|Hyun-Jun|HJ|', 'Muraco|Anna|A|', 'Erosheva|Elena A|EA|', 'Goldsen|Jayn|J|', 'Hoy-Ellis|Charles P|CP|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D001727:Bisexuality D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003863:Depression D005260:Female D015438:Health Behavior D006297:Health Services Accessibility D006304:Health Status D006305:Health Status Indicators D018452:Homosexuality, Female D018451:Homosexuality, Male D006801:Humans D016015:Logistic Models D008297:Male D008603:Mental Health D008875:Middle Aged D054525:Minority Health D011788:Quality of Life D055500:Resilience, Psychological D012307:Risk Factors D057545:Social Stigma D012944:Social Support D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
LGB Resilience Disability Depression Minority health