Promoting Health Equity Among LGBT Mid-Life and Older Adults: Revealing how LGBT mid-life and older adults can attain their full health potential.
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Revealing how LGBT mid-life and older adults can attain their full health potential.The older adult population is becoming increasingly diverse. Given the rapid demographic changes in the U.S. population, there is rising diversity in older adults by race and ethnicity, as well as by sexual and gender identity. It is estimated that more than 2.4 million adults ages 50 and older in the United States identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) (Fredriksen-Goldsen and Kim, 2014), accounting for 2.4 percent of the population. Given the significant aging of the population overall, by 2030, LGBT adults ages 50 and older will number more than 5 million.LGBT adults who are middle-age and older experience significant health disparities (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, and Barkan, 2012; Wallace et al., 2011), defined as variations in health attributable to systemic environmental, economic, and social barriers that place individuals at a disadvantage in the larger society (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Disparities in physical and mental health among LGBT older adults reflect a number of complex risks factors, including experiences of discrimination and victimization, elevated levels of chronic stress, delayed and limited access to care, and, for some, the increased likelihood of economic and social deprivation and isolation. Yet, despite disparities and adversity they may experience, most LGBT older adults are healthy and aging well (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2014a).This article examines the health disparities of LGBT mid-life and older adults through a health-equity perspective. To address the range of health outcomes in these communities, we will look at strengths and resources, as well as challenges. The analysis will incorporate historical and changing social context. I also will consider steps for better addressing the unique health and aging needs of LGBT mid-life and older adults through innovations in services, policy, and research.LGBT Health DisparitiesSome common health problems are elevated for LGBT mid-life and older adults, even when taking into account differences in age distribution, income, and education. Compared to heterosexuals of similar age, lesbian, gay, and bisexual mid-life and older adults are at an elevated risk of poor general health, disability, and mental distress (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, and Barkan, 2012; Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013b; Wallace et al., 2011), and are more likely to engage in adverse health behaviors such as smoking and excessive drinking. Transgender midlife and older adults have significantly higher rates of poor general physical health, disability, depression, and perceived stress than do their lesbian, gay, and bisexual counterparts (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013a).Although LGBT older adults often are assumed to be a homogeneous group, there are important sub-group differences when it comes to health. Older lesbian and bisexual women have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013b; Valanis et al., 2000), obesity, disability (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013b), and cancers of the reproductive system (Valanis et al., 2000) than heterosexual women of similar age, while gay and bisexual men have higher rates of poor general health (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013b), hypertension, and diabetes compared to their heterosexual peers (Wallace et al., 2011). Differences in health behaviors also are evident between sexual minority groups; older lesbians are significantly more likely to engage in heavy drinking compared to older bisexual women. Furthermore, diabetes is significantly more common among older bisexual men than among older gay men, and older bisexual men are less likely to have obtained an HIV test than older gay men (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013b).Some LGBT older adults may also be at risk of social isolation because they are less likely to be partnered or married than heterosexuals of similar age, and older gay and bisexual men, compared to older heterosexual men, are more likely to live alone and have significantly fewer children (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al. …
Source: PubMed
Author: Karen I Fredriksen-Goldsen
Institution: University of Washington
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Institute on Aging
OpenAlex ID: W1214320905