1. Tori E. Arthur, Jessica D. Graham, Brent W. Schneider, & Sue C. Jacobs
Authenticity and the Positive Health and Well-being of LGBTQ+ Older Adults
Tori E. Arthur, Jessica D. Graham, Brent W. Schneider, & Sue C. Jacobs
Oklahoma State University
School of Applied Health & Educational Psychology
References
Green et al, 2013
Gross, J., & Frosch, D. (2007, October 9). Aging and Gay, and Facing Prejudice in Twilight. New York Times, p. A1. Retrieved from
Frost, D. M., & Meyer, I. H. (2012). Measuring community connectedness among diverse sexual minority populations. Journal of Sex Research, 49(1), doi: /
Mohr, J., & Fassinger, R. (2000). Measuring dimensions of lesbian and gay male experience. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 33(2),
Riggle, E. D. B., Mohr, J. J., Rostosky, S. S., Fingerhut, A. W., & Balsam, K. F. (2014). A multifactor lesbian, gay, and bisexual positive identity measure (LGB-PIM). Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1(4), doi: /sgd
Riggle, E. D. B., & Mohr, J. J. (2015). A proposed multi factor measure of positive identity for transgender identified individuals. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2(1), doi: /sgd
Ware & Sherbourne, 1992
Results
Introduction
Methods
Estimates of the adult population who self-identify as LGBTQ+ range from 3.9% to 11% when defined as life-time same sex attraction. LGBTQ+ older adults have increased prevalence rates of poor physical/mental health and premature death compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers (Gross, 2007)., which has been attributed to various barriers, marginalization and stigma, and limited access to health and formal services. Little is known about positive factors that may contribute to or mediate these risks to LGBTQ+ health. This ongoing study explores factors related to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older.
The Authenticity subscale of the of the PIM-LGB was positively correlated with the Outness Inventory (r=.521, p<.001), the Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale (r=.505, , p<.001), and the MOS Emotional Well-Being Subscale (r= .334; p< .007).
In this ongoing study, 146 eligible participants completed a demographics questionnaire, the Outness Inventory (OI; Mohr & Fassinger, 2000), the Gay and Lesbian Acceptance and Support Index (GLASSI; Green et al, 2013), either the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Positive identity Measure (PIM-LGB; Riggle et al, 2014) or Positive Identity Measure for Transgender Individuals (PIM-T; Riggle & Mohr 2015) dependent upon answers to gender and sex questions, the Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale (COM; Frost & Meyer, 2012), and the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form Survey Instrument (MOS-36; Ware & Sherbourne, 1992). Participant recruitment was via social and online venues that potentially yield the highest proportion of LGBTQ+ participants who are 50 years old or older.
Table 1
Bivariate Correlations Between Scales 1 2 3 4 5
1. PIM Authenticity
---
2. GLASSI
.237**
3. Outness
.521**
.262**
4. LGBT Community Connectedness
.417**
-.067
.204*
5. MOS Emotional Well-being
.348**
.231**
.229*
.276**
Table 2
Age:
M = years
SD = 7.13
Range =
Sex:
Female
Male
Female to Male
Male to Female
Please Specify 59 77 4 5 1
Gender:
Man
Woman
Transgender
Missing 57 7 3 2
Sexual Orientation:
Gay/Lesbian
Most Gay/Lesbian
Bisexual
Mostly Straight
119 8 12
Ethnicity:
American Indian/Native American
Asian American
White/Caucasian
Mixed Race
134
Education:
High School Graduate/GED
Some College
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Doctorate 6 31 32 28 40
Relationship Status:
Dating
Divorced
Living Together
Married or Long-Term Relationship
Separated
Single
Widowed
Consensually Non-Monogamous 9 56 52
Discussion and Conclusions
These results provide evidence for continued study of factors relating to health and well-being for LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older. As indicated in Table 2, the LGBT-PIM Authenticity Scale positively correlates with the following scales: LGBT-PIM Self-Awareness scale, Community scale, Intimacy scale, Social Justice scale, MOS Emotional Well-being total, Outness Inventory Overall total, and the CLCS total. These results show there is a significant correlation between authenticity and positive health and well-being for LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older. LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older have additional challenges compared to their heterosexual counterparts. LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older may present differently in therapy depending on their levels of outness and acceptance. Therapists should incorporate techniques with clients to move them to greater levels of authenticity.
*=.05; **=.01; PIM= Positive Identity Measure;; MOS= Medical Outcomes Study
What Encompasses
Authenticity
The PIM-LGB Authenticity subscale conceptualizes and operationalizes authenticity with the following items:
I am comfortable with my LGBT identity
I am honest with myself about my LGBT identity
I embrace my LGBT identity
I feel I can be honest and share my LGBT identity with others