Abstract
To estimate the size of the sexual minorities population in the community-dwelling elderly population in Germany, and to identify whether there is a link with sexual minority status and depressive symptoms. Data were taken from the most recent sixth wave (year 2017) of the German Ageing Survey (n = 5,133). Average age was 66,1 years (43-90 years). Depressive symptoms were quantified using the 15-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Sexualities of heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual were identified. In the analyses we included the following covariates: age, sex, partnership status, place of residence, subjective health, physical functioning (short scale SF-36). Among community-dwelling individuals 40 years and over, 92.8 % identify themselves as heterosexuals and 7.2 % as gender and sexual minorities (1.7 % bisexual, 1.1 % homosexual, and 4.3 % belong to the group "others"). Both bivariate analysis and multiple linear regressions showed no significant association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. Our study findings suggest that there is no significant association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults.
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