Older Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults: What Predicts Adjustment to Aging?

Abstract

Build a structural model to explore whether socio-demographic, health and lifestyle-related variables are correlates of adjustment to aging (AtA) in a group of older lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. The sample comprised 287 community-dwelling older LGB adults aged 75 years and older. Convenience sampling was used to gather questionnaire data. Measures encompassed the Adjustment to Aging Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, demographics (sex, age, professional and marital status, education, household, and family annual income), and lifestyle and health-related characteristics (self-reported spirituality, leisure, physical activity, perceived health, and medication). Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, comprising all the above variables. Outcomes revealed satisfactory goodness of fitness indices in both the measurement and structural model. The study variables contributed towards a high percentage of AtA variability. Perceived health and leisure were the strongest correlates of AtA. The results of this study indicate that policy making and community interventions with older LGB adults may benefit from including variables such as perceived health and leisure, income, education, spirituality, sex, physical activity, satisfaction with life, and marital status.