THE ROLE OF COPING IN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DISCRIMINATION AND HEALTH OVER TIME IN SEXUAL MINORITY OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

Abstract While research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (i.e., sexual minority) middle-aged and older adults has increased over the past decade, there is still a critical need for more research on the health and resilience in this marginalized group, especially longitudinal research. This study examined the differences in the associations between perceived daily discrimination and the physical and mental health of sexual minority and heterosexual adults over time and assessed the moderating effects of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping on these associations. The sample for this study consisted of sexual minority (n=162) and propensity matched heterosexual (n=324) middle-aged and older adults (mean age at baseline=43 years, SD=12.5) with data from three waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, spanning approximately 20 years. Results found that, for sexual minority participants, reporting higher perceived discrimination was associated with a greater number of chronic conditions at baseline, but was also associated with a significant decrease in the number of chronic conditions over time. For the heterosexual participants, both high and low perceived daily discrimination was associated with an increase in the number of chronic conditions over time. The results of this study also found significant moderating effects of coping on the number of chronic conditions and self-rated mental health over time. Problem-focused coping may protect against the negative effects of discrimination on health. These results are suggestive of a “steeling” effect or a resistance to stress achieved through exposures to adversity for the sexual minority middle-aged and older adults in this study.