Kim Hyun-Jun, Fredriksen-Goldsen Karen I
University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle, Washington.
Gerontologist. 2016 Jun;56(3):548-58. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu083. Epub 2014 Sep 11.
Loneliness is a key health risk for older adults. Utilizing the loneliness model, we examine the relationship between living arrangement and loneliness among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults, taking into consideration potential correlates including social resources and personal constraints.
We use data from a national survey of LGB adults aged 50 and older (N = 2,444). Types of living arrangement include living with a partner or spouse, living alone, and living with someone other than a partner or spouse.
Compared with LGB older adults living with a partner or spouse, both those living alone and living with others reported higher degrees of loneliness, even after controlling for other correlates. The results of a multivariate regression analysis reveal that social support, social network size, and internalized stigma partially account for the relationship between living arrangement and loneliness.
Living arrangement was found to be an independent correlate of loneliness among LGB older adults. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce loneliness for those living alone and those living with someone other than a partner or spouse in part by enhancing social resources and reducing risks of internalized stigma. Eliminating discriminatory policies against same-sex partnerships and partnered living arrangements is recommended.
孤独是老年人面临的一项关键健康风险。利用孤独模型，我们考察了女同性恋、男同性恋和双性恋（LGB）老年人的居住安排与孤独感之间的关系，同时考虑了包括社会资源和个人限制在内的潜在相关因素。
我们使用了一项针对50岁及以上LGB成年人的全国性调查数据（N = 2444）。居住安排类型包括与伴侣或配偶同住、独自居住以及与伴侣或配偶以外的人同住。
与与伴侣或配偶同住的LGB老年人相比，独自居住和与他人同住的老年人即使在控制了其他相关因素后，报告的孤独程度也更高。多元回归分析结果显示，社会支持、社交网络规模和内化耻辱感部分解释了居住安排与孤独感之间的关系。
研究发现居住安排是LGB老年人孤独感的一个独立相关因素。需要有针对性的干预措施来减少独自居住以及与伴侣或配偶以外的人同住的老年人的孤独感，部分方法是增强社会资源并降低内化耻辱感的风险。建议消除针对同性伴侣关系和伴侣居住安排的歧视性政策。
