Abstract
Premised upon strength-based models of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer (LGBTQ) aging, this Internet study explored relationships among mental and physical health, financial anxiety, body shame, alienation, loneliness, self-compassion, and self-transcendence in midlife and older adulthood. Findings suggest LGBTQ midlife mental health is predicted by financial anxiety, physical health, self-compassion, alienation, self-transcendence, and body shame (R² =.61), and self-compassion, physical health, financial anxiety, and self-transcendence in older adulthood (R² =.56). Older adults identifying as LGBTQ evidenced less body shame and financial anxiety, and higher self-compassion and mental health. Findings suggest the primacy of self-compassion in LGBTQ developmental gerontology. Counseling implications are discussed.