Differential Effects of Social Support by Sexual Orientation: A Study of Depression Symptoms Among Older Canadians in the CLSA

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 251-261
Author(s):  
Arne Stinchcombe ◽  
Nicole G. Hammond ◽  
Kimberley Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
National Study ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Positive Social Interaction ◽  
Tangible Support ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Bisexual Identity

This study examined differences in symptoms of mental illness, specifically depression, by sexual orientation and examined the protective role of social support among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older Canadians. Data were drawn from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a national study of adults aged 45–85 years at baseline ( n = 46,157). We examined whether the effect of sexual orientation on depression symptoms was moderated by four types of social support: emotional/informational support, affectionate support, tangible support, and positive social interaction. LGB identification was associated with increased depression symptoms relative to heterosexual participants. After adjustment for covariates, bisexual identity remained a significant predictor of depression symptoms. Low emotional/informational social support was associated with increased depression symptoms, an effect that was most pronounced for lesbian and gay participants. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on the mental health of older LGB people.

scholarly journals THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG AGING SEXUAL MINORITY CANADIANS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S303-S304
Author(s):  
Arne Stinchcombe ◽  
Nicole G Hammond ◽  
Kimberley Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
And Bisexual

Abstract Sexual minority older adults face minority stressors that are associated with higher rates of mental illness. The stress buffering effects of social support within majority populations are well documented. Using a large population-based sample of aging Canadians, we sought to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms, and determine whether this relationship is moderated by social support and sex. Baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) were used (n = 46147). Participants were between the ages of 45-85 years at time of recruitment (mean age = 62.46, SD = 10.27), and self-reported their sexual orientation as heterosexual or lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) (2.1%). Social support and depressive symptoms were measured using validated instruments. Four functional social support subscales were derived: tangible, positive social interaction, affectionate, and emotional/informational. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for relevant covariates were conducted. LGB identification was associated with greater depressive symptoms when compared to heterosexual participants (p = 0.032). As evidenced by a significant 3-way interaction (p = 0.030), increasing tangible social support was associated with a corresponding decrease in the risk of depressive symptoms; this relationship was most pronounced for lesbian and bisexual women. A significant 2-way interaction (p = 0.040) revealed that as emotional/informational social support increased, depressive symptoms decreased, with greater disparity between LGB and heterosexual participants at lower levels of social support. The results highlight the importance of social support in promoting mental health, especially among sexual minority older adults.

scholarly journals Sexual orientation openness and depression symptoms: A population-based study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A van der Star ◽  
J E Pachankis ◽  
R Bränström
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
European Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

Abstract Background Sexual minorities (e.g., lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals) are at higher risk for depression than heterosexual individuals. Lack of openness about one’s sexual orientation is a suggested source of these disparities, but it has been linked to both positive and negative mental health. Few population-based studies have explored the association between openness and depression, and potential mediators and moderators of this association, including social support and sexual orientation-based victimization. Methods Swedish respondents to the 2014 wave of the European Health Interview Survey were used to identify a population-based sample of self-reported sexual minorities. All individuals reporting a nonheterosexual identity (and a matched sample of heterosexuals) were invited to participate in a follow-back study in 2016 (n = 320). A total of 191 (59.7%) individuals completed the survey, of whom 80 reported a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or other nonheterosexual identity. Results This first nationally representative survey of sexual orientation openness showed that only about one third of the sample reported being completely open. We found no evidence of a direct association between openness and depression or a mediating effect of social support or victimization on this association. However, social support moderated this relationship, such that greater openness was linked to higher depression among sexual minorities reporting low levels of social support. Conclusions Our study suggests that sexual orientation openness is not directly related to lower risk of depression among sexual minorities, but is instead dependent on access to social support. Sexual minorities might need social support for navigating the stress of open self-identification.

Age moderates the relationship between source of social support and mental health in racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 888-897
Author(s):  
Anna E Wise ◽  
Brian C Smith ◽  
Aaron P Armelie ◽  
Jessica M Boarts ◽  
Douglas L Delahanty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Racial Minority ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Relationship

We examined the relationship between source of social support and mental health (and the moderating impact of age) in 64 low socioeconomic status, racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents/young adults. Social support from family ( β = −.302, p = .03; β = −.364, p = .008), but not friends or significant others, was independently related to posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms, respectively. Family social support was associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in participants aged 16–19 years, while friend social support was associated with lower symptoms for participants aged over 20 years. Friend social support was also associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in participants aged 16–17 years. Interventions should target age-appropriate sources of social support.

scholarly journals Tożsamościowe wyzwania kobiet sprawujących opiekę nad dzieckiem w związkach jednopłciowych w świetle koncepcji Vivienne Cass

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 217-244
Author(s):  
Jowita Wycisk Jowita Wycisk
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Industrial Society ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Extensive Discussion ◽  
Sexual Orientation Identity ◽  
Parental Identity ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Bisexual Identity

Development of the contemporary post-industrial society entails the increasing diversity of family life models. People, making individual choices in this field, face new challenges related to identity formation. In the text presented this issue is discussed on the example of women bringing up children in same-sex relationships. The article presents basic information on the same-sex parenting, underlines the importance of the idea of identity integration in psychology and stresses the lack of contiguity between theories of parental identity development and these ones of homosexual and bisexual identity development. An extensive discussion of the Vivienne Cass’s theory of sexual orientation identity development is the basis for the approximation of potential discrepancies in the identity system of non-heterosexual women taking parental roles. Two main factors relevant to the processes of identity formation were distinguished: the order of the development of the sexual orientation identity and parental identity (the planned and reconstructed families differ in this regard) and the way of establishing and maintaining the relationship with the child (other challenges are faced by biological and social mothers). In the summary, questions requiring future empirical exploration were notified.

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