School of Social Work, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Global Social Development Innovations, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
J Appl Gerontol. 2024 Mar;43(3):276-286. doi: 10.1177/07334648231203838. Epub 2023 Oct 6.
This study explored differences among older adults in mental health by sexual minority status. Data came from the 2021 U.S. National Health Interview Survey. The study sample included older adults (or those aged ≥50 years, = 15,559), and of those, two percent ( = 380) self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). Older LGB adults had significantly higher odds of reporting a diagnosis of depression and anxiety and experiencing serious psychological distress than older non-LGB adults. Additionally, older LGB adults reported higher odds of experiencing depression and anxiety more frequently than older non-LGB adults. Significant covariates included age, sex, housing, food security, and social support. Increased risk for mental illness may be long-term consequences of stigma and discrimination that this population has experienced over the life course. The combination of structural interventions and affirming mental healthcare that recognizes the cumulative negative experience among older LGB adults is necessary to achieve mental health equity.
本研究通过性少数群体状况探讨了老年人心理健康方面的差异。数据来自 2021 年美国国家健康访谈调查。研究样本包括老年人（或年龄≥50 岁的人，n=15559），其中有 2%（n=380）自我认定为女同性恋、男同性恋或双性恋（LGB）。与非 LGB 老年人相比，老年 LGB 成年人报告患有抑郁症和焦虑症以及经历严重心理困扰的可能性显著更高。此外，老年 LGB 成年人报告出现抑郁和焦虑的频率也显著高于非 LGB 老年人。重要的协变量包括年龄、性别、住房、食品安全和社会支持。这种人口在整个生命过程中经历的污名化和歧视可能是精神疾病长期存在的后果。需要采取结构性干预措施和支持性的心理健康保健，以承认老年 LGB 成年人的累积负面经历，从而实现心理健康公平。
