Cohn-Schwartz Ella, Gooldin Sigal, Meiry Lian, Heidemann Robert, Bachner Yaacov G
Gerontology Program, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
The Israeli Institute for Gender and LGBTQ Studies, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025 May 14. doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02919-y.
This study joins a growing body of research on the different types of families of aging individuals belonging to sexual and gender minorities. We explore the characteristics of "families of choice" (who are close enough to be considered as family) and families of origin of LGBTQ + older adults and their associations with mental health.
Data for this study were collected via an online survey with self-identified lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer and others (LGBTQ +) adults aged 50 + (n = 432). Participants were asked about characteristics of the relationships with their families of choice and their families of origin, depressive symptoms and well-being.
The results indicated that most participants had a family of choice, numbering five people on average. They also reported having about four close family of origin members. Several differences emerged when comparing the two types of families: The relationships with families of origin were more stable, while families of choice were more committed, more likely to accept participants' sexual orientation and the relationship with members of families of choice had fewer negative aspects. Regression analyses showed that individuals had better mental health if they had more close family of origin members, more family of choice members and a partner, if the relationship with their families of choice were more stable and less negative.
These findings shed light on the unique sources of support among LGBTQ + older adults and their associations with mental health.
本研究加入了越来越多关于属于性少数群体和性别少数群体的老年人不同类型家庭的研究。我们探讨了“选择的家庭”（亲密到可被视为家庭的群体）以及LGBTQ+老年人原生家庭的特征，以及它们与心理健康的关联。
本研究的数据通过对50岁及以上自我认定为女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、酷儿及其他群体（LGBTQ+）的成年人（n = 432）进行的在线调查收集。参与者被问及与他们选择的家庭和原生家庭的关系特征、抑郁症状和幸福感。
结果表明，大多数参与者有一个选择的家庭，平均人数为五人。他们还报告说有大约四个原生家庭的亲密成员。比较这两种类型的家庭时出现了一些差异：与原生家庭的关系更稳定，而选择的家庭更忠诚，更有可能接受参与者的性取向，并且与选择的家庭成员的关系负面方面更少。回归分析表明，如果个人有更多原生家庭的亲密成员、更多选择的家庭成员和一个伴侣，并且与他们选择的家庭的关系更稳定且负面更少，那么他们的心理健康状况会更好。
这些发现揭示了LGBTQ+老年人独特的支持来源及其与心理健康的关联。
