Work

A preliminary model of health regarding sexual and ethnic minority older adults

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Older individuals with sexual/gender minority and minority racial/ethnic identities typically face unique challenges, along with opportunities to overcome these obstacles. Published studies on the difficulties faced by sexual and gender minorities are available; however, research on older adults with both racial/ethnic minority and sexual and gender minority identities is rarer. These individuals must confront various forms of discrimination related to ageism, homophobia and racism. Resilience likely plays a role in the ability to manage and survive multiple challenges and discriminatory experiences, yet targeted research on these populations is lacking. This paper offers a preliminary model that incorporates prevalent threats to these populations' well-being and their deleterious psychosocial correlates, especially, whenever available, the unique challenges that older individuals must face when age, sexual orientation and race/ethnicity intersect. Recommendations are made to optimise the expansion and empirical testing of this preliminary model.

Source: Culture Health & Sexuality

DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2019.1710566

Authors: Luciana Laganá, Ovsanna A. Balian, Marina Z. Nakhla, Juan Zizumbo, Shayna Greenberg

Institutions: California State University, Northridge, University of Delaware, San Diego State University, University of California San Diego

Language: English

Topic: LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences