Healthy and Successful Aging Outside the Closet: How Outness and Social Support Relate to Health and Aging Concerns

Abstract

The ability to disclose an LGBTQ+ identity is a significant part of many queer lives. A person’s outness can often be tied into their social support whether through their network or available resources. This study investigated how outness, social network, and access to resources relate to older LGBTQ+ individuals’ concerns regarding their care and their aging. A secondary data analysis was conducted using survey data from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The results showed that an increase in one’s social network indicated a decrease in aging-related care concerns; an increase in access to resources indicated a decrease in concerns; the degree to which one was out was not associated with a change in concerns. Ultimately, this study was able to provide several insights into the LGBTQ+ community and how their perceived social support relates to their concerns about their care as they age