Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8788-0693
Date Available
5-1-2025
Year of Publication
2025
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Psychology
Faculty
Dr. Rachel H. Farr
Faculty
Dr. Mike Bardo
Abstract
Despite a lifetime of systematic barriers, LGBTQ+ individuals age into late adulthood, likely due to various protective factors. Guided by the Iridescent Life Course Framework (ILCF; Fredriksen-Goldsen & Muraco, 2019), I analyzed unique protective factors at two levels: (1) individual psychological factors (i.e., resilience, identity management) and (2) community-level factors (i.e., LGBTQ+ community connectedness, social support). Health was operationalized as mental health, physical health, and health-promoting behaviors. The present study accounted for covariates (i.e., financial barriers to healthcare, felt subjective age discrepancy, lifetime discrimination). I hypothesized that both stronger individual and community factors would be associated with better physical and mental health and more engagement in health-promoting behaviors among older LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. Additionally, I hypothesized that age cohorts (i.e., individuals between 55-64 years old, those 65 and older) would present significant group differences across protective factors, such that younger cohorts would present greater community-level protective factors. The sample included 95 LGBTQ+ adults aged 55 years and older that lived in the U.S. Results displayed that resilience and social support were significant positive predictors of physical and psychological well-being, beyond what was explained by relevant covariates, like subjective age discrepancy and financial barriers to healthcare. Resilience was a significant positive predictor of engagement in health-promoting behaviors, after relevant factors were accounted for as covariates. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences between age cohorts in terms of individual or community-level protective factors. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.21
Funding Information
This study was supported by the University of Kentucky's Committee on Social Theory Grant in 2024.
Recommended Citation
Lapidus, Emily P., "MULTIDIMENSIONAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IN LGBTQ+ OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES: INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL PROTECTIVE FACTORS" (2025). Theses and Dissertations--Psychology. 273.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_etds/273
