Predictors of Loneliness Among Older Lesbian and Gay People

ABSTRACT

This study sought to understand the social and individual factors that predict loneliness among older lesbian and gay people in Australia. A sample of 508 gay men and 241 lesbian women, aged 60 and over, completed a survey including measures of loneliness, internalized homonegativity, sexual orientation discrimination, and connectedness to lesbian and gay communities. A multivariable linear regression predicting loneliness was conducted. Not being in an intimate relationship and having less connection to lesbian and gay communities were significant predictors of loneliness for both older lesbian women and gay men. For the men, younger age, internalized homonegativity and more frequent lifetime experiences of sexual orientation discrimination also appeared to predict greater likelihood of loneliness. More frequent recent experiences of sexual orientation discrimination predicted loneliness for the women. The findings confirmed loneliness as an issue of concern among older lesbian and gay people and identified factors amenable to intervention to address loneliness.

KEYWORDS:

• Loneliness
• lesbian
• gay
• discrimination
• sexuality
• older people

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank and acknowledge LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, COTA Australia, SANE Australia, and Carers Australia for their input into this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council under Grant [LP160100221].