Sexual orientation and psychosocial factors in terms of loneliness and subjective well-being in later life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to fill the gap in knowledge regarding the association between sexual orientation and psychosocial outcomes (loneliness and subjective well-being) based on nationally representative samples.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data collected in 2017 were taken from a nationally representative sample of individuals in the second half of life (>40 years) in Germany (n = 4,785, average age 66.4 years, standard deviation [SD]: 10.5 years). Outcomes were assessed using well-established tools (life satisfaction: Satisfaction with Life Scale; positive and negative affect: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; loneliness: De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale). Sexual orientation was dichotomized (heterosexual; sexual minorities including gay/lesbian, bisexual, and other). Analyses were adjusted for socioeconomic factors, lifestyle-related factors, and health-related factors.

RESULTS: In total, around 7.8% of respondents belonged to sexual minorities. Adjusted for various several socioeconomic, lifestyle-related and health-related covariates, linear regressions showed that sexual minority older adults reported higher loneliness scores (β = 0.07, p < .05), whereas sexual orientation was not associated with subjective well-being (life satisfaction, as well as positive and negative affect). Furthermore, our analysis showed that gender, age, marital status, and depressive symptoms were consistently associated with loneliness and subjective well-being.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: In accordance with minority stress theory, our study showed that sexual minority older adults report higher loneliness scores. This finding is important as loneliness has become widely acknowledged as a new geriatric giant, which could increase, for example, the risk of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, reducing loneliness is important for successful aging.