Silver Rainbow

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade em Psicologia ClínicaEspera-se que até 2050 a população com 60 ou mais anos, atualmente representada por 841 milhões, passe a dois bilhões. Prevê-se que em Portugal, até 2080, a população de idade avançada passe de 2.1 a 2.8 milhões. As investigações atuais demonstram um aumento significativo da população LGBT nesta faixa etária, sendo que a literatura tem-se manifestado desatualizada e insuficiente parecendo não acompanhar as necessidades destes indivíduos. Esta população, constituindo-se como minoria sexual e de idade avançada, está particularmente sujeita a um duplo estigma. Neste estudo, pretende-se avaliar de que forma o estatuto minoritário, associado ao estigma sexual, à discriminação associada à idade e a outras variáveis psicossociais, interfere em variáveis de saúde mental, como a satisfação sexual e relacional. A amostra é constituída por 96 homens gays/bissexuais com 60 anos ou mais (M = 62.9; DP = 4.37) que responderam ao protocolo do projeto Silver Rainbow. Os dados foram recolhidos em formato online e em papel. A discriminação associada à idade explica de forma significativa a satisfação sexual e relacional, embora o estigma sexual apenas contribua significativamente para a explicação da satisfação sexual. Ainda, os níveis de coming out contribuem para a explicação da satisfação relacional. Verifica-se que o duplo estigma explica significativamente os níveis de satisfação sexual, mas não os de satisfação relacional. O Modelo de Stress Minoritário afigura-se como um modelo explicativo sólido no estudo desta população. Devido à escassez de estudos nesta área, sugere-se mais investigação no âmbito do envelhecimento LGBT.ABSTRACT: It is expected that by 2050 the population with 60 or more years, currently represented by 841 million, will reach the number two billions. It is expected that in Portugal, by the year 2080, the elderly population will go from 2.1 to 2.8 million. Current research demonstrates a significant increase of the LGBT population in this age group, and literature is currently outdated and insufficient, and does not seem to address the needs of these individuals. This population, constituting itself as sexual minority and elderly people, is particularly subject to a double stigma. In this research, the aim is to evaluate how minority status, associated with sexual stigma, age discrimination and other psychosocial variables, interferes with mental health variables such as sexual and relationship satisfaction. The sample consisted of 96 gay/bisexual men aged 60 years or older (M = 62.9; SD = 4.37) who responded to the Silver Rainbow protocol. The data were collected in online and in paper format. Age discrimination significantly explains sexual and relationship satisfaction, although sexual stigma only contributes significantly to the explanation of sexual satisfaction. Moreover, the levels of coming out contribute to the explanation of relationship satisfaction. It is verified that the double stigma explains significantly the levels of sexual satisfaction, but not those of relationship satisfaction. The Minority Stress Model appears as a solid explanatory model in the study of this population. Due to the lack of studies in this area, more research in the field of LGBT aging is suggested

Loneliness, ageism, and mental health: The buffering role of resilience in seniors

Introduction: Ageism and loneliness are two relevant public health phenomena because of their negative impact on the senior’s mental health. With the increase in average life expectancy, these tend to co-occur, which may increase the psychological distress (PD) of seniors. Resilience has been shown to be an important protective factor of seniors mental health, although its potential buffering role of public health risk factors with cumulative impact on mental health, such as loneliness and ageism, needs to be more studied. Aim: To assess the potential mediator role of resilience between the effects of ageism and loneliness on PD in seniors. Methods: A sample of 349 Portuguese seniors aged 60 years and over was collected through an online survey and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Seniors completed the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), the Short-Form of UCLA Loneliness Scale (USL-6), the Ambivalent Ageism Scale (AAS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). A mediation analysis model was developed with resilience as a mediating variable. Results: There were moderate to high levels of PD and moderate levels of ageism, loneliness and resilience. Resilience fully mediated the effect of ageism on PD and partially mediated the effect of loneliness on PD. Conclusions: Resilience was an important protective factor of mental health against the effects of ageism, and partially protected mental health from the effects of loneliness among seniors. It is suggested that resilience be considered as a factor to be integrated in future intervention programs for mental health. The practical applicability of this study is discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Coming out experiences and disclosure gap in three age cohorts of portuguese cisgender sexual minority men

Introduction Studies emphasize that the time elapsed between self-awareness of one’s sexual orientation and its disclosure to others (disclosure gap) can be an indicator of psychosocial adjustment of sexual minorities. Methods This study examined the coming out experiences and disclosure gap of three generations of sexual minority men: adults, 25–39 years; middle-aged, 40–59 years; and seniors, 60 or more years. A sample of 274 cisgender men was recruited, with ages ranging from 25 to 79 years. Data was collected between 2018 and 2019. Results Although most men had disclosed their sexual orientation to signifcant others, there was a wide variation on the coming out timing and experiences across the three age cohorts. Senior sexual minority men realized and disclosed their sexual orientation later than middle-aged men, while the latter realized and disclosed later than their younger counterparts. The disclosure gap followed a similar trend increasing with age. Regression analyses revealed that high levels of self-stigma explained a larger disclosure gap among the middle-aged, whereas low community connectedness explained a larger disclosure gap among seniors. No signifcant predictors emerged among adults. Conclusions Overall coming out experiences worsened with age, with the older cohort reporting realizing and disclosing their sexual orientation later in life, taking longer to come out after identifying as sexual minorities, and feeling less accepted by others after coming out. Policy Implications This study highlighted some of the social factors that may improve sexual minority’s psychosocial wellbeing and possibly counterbalance the negative efects of stigma, namely, connection to the LGBT community.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bullying in old age: A qualitative study on older adults’ perceptions about being bullied

Significant demographic changes and a growing aging population increasingly emphasize the importance of assessing phenomena of violence against older adults, who constitute a vulnerable population. Therefore, bullying in old age is a poorly studied phenomena, but of growing importance. This study aims to analyze the perspectives of bullying in old age, using qualitative research at a cross-national level. We interviewed 173 older participants aged 65–91 years. Participants were Portuguese and English and lived in the community. Participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews. All the interviews went through a process of content analysis. Sample recruitment occurred through initial telephone contact, followed by a request to participate. Outcomes of content analysis produced seven themes, all of them associated with bullying experiences such as compromised learning capacity, loss of sense of agency and decision-making, asexuality, less attractive appearance, less social skills, gender discrimination, and less financial resources. Portuguese older adults felt mostly bullied for their loss of sense of agency and decision-making, less attractive appearance, less social skills, and less financial resources, while English participants mostly felt bullied for their compromised learning capacity, gender discrimination, and asexuality. The themes identified as being the most prominent in bullying are valuable guidelines for social policies and interventions toward bullying among older adults. Considering the scarcity of studies on bullying in older adults, this study is relevant for understanding the experience of older adults in relation to being bullied and for implementing psychosocial intervention programs including bullying situations that affect community-dwelling older adults.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mental health and sexual stigma on LGB senior: A systematic scoping review

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTN/

Não monogamia consensual: atitudes e experiências de pessoas heterossexuais, homossexuais e plurissexuais

A maioria das culturas ocidentais assume o padrão relacional monogâmico como o ideal nas relações de compromisso, ainda que este padrão seja hoje menos frequente e particularmente entre minorias sexuais. O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar as crenças e a adesão à não monogamia consensual. Método: Foi recolhida uma amostra de 1,725 adultos (idade média = 35), entre os quais 1,159 exclusivamente heterossexuais, 164 exclusivamente homossexuais, e 402 plurissexuais, que participaram em um estudo conduzido online. Resultados: Os participantes heterossexuais revelaram atitudes e desejo de envolvimento em relações sexuais mais restritivas e atitudes menos abertas a relações não monogâmicas do que os participantes homossexuais e plurissexuais. Contudo, os participantes plurissexuais revelaram maior abertura a relações não monogâmicas do que os participantes homossexuais. Quanto ao género, as mulheres de forma geral revelaram atitudes e desejo de envolvimento em relações sexuais mais restritivas e atitudes menos abertas a relações não monogâmicas do que os homens. Discussão: Neste estudo, as pessoas com identidades sexuais menos normativas (bissexuais, pansexuais, queer) revelaram maior desejo e experiência de relações de compromisso não monogâmico e atitudes sexuais menos restritivas, sugerindo uma dupla disrupção dos padrões heteronormativos e mononormativos que poderá ter impacto na saúde, e particularmente na saúde sexual deste grupo de pessoas.In most Western cultures, the monogamous relational pattern is assumed as ideal in committed relationships, although this pattern is becoming less frequent today and particularly among sexual minorities. The aim of this study was to examine the beliefs and adherence to consensual non-monogamy. Method: A sample of 1,725 adults (mean age = 35) was collected, including 1,159 exclusively heterosexual, 164 exclusively homosexual, and 402 plurisexual individuals who participated in an online study. Results: Heterosexual participants revealed attitudes and desire to engage in more restrictive sexual relations and less open attitudes to non-monogamous relations than homosexual and plurisexual participants. However, plurisexual participants revealed greater openness to non-monogamous relationships than homosexual participants. Regarding gender, women generally revealed attitudes and desire to engage in more restrictive sexual relations and less open attitudes to non-monogamous relationships than did men. Discussion: In this study, people with less normative sexual identities (bisexual, pansexual, queer) revealed greater desire and experience of non-monogamous committed relationships and less restrictive sexual attitudes, suggesting a double disruption of heteronormative and mononormative patterns that may impact health, and particularly sexual health of this group of people.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Preâmbulo

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Loneliness, social support, and adjustment to aging in older portuguese gay men

Background Older LGBT adults are growing in visibility throughout the Western world. An emerging body of research reveals that this population is at greater risk for a variety of negative physical and mental health problems compared to the general population. One such problem is loneliness, which is emerging as a major public health issue around the world. Unfortunately, loneliness has not been studied in a diverse range of older LGBT people. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of loneliness, as well as possible demographic and psychosocial predictors, in a population of older Portuguese gay men. Methods Using online surveys, 110 older Portuguese gay men (mean age = 63.5) completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale for Portuguese Older Adults, Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale and Adjustment to Aging Scale, as well as measures of support from family and friends. Results Overall, high levels of loneliness were found, particularly among those with lower education levels. Low levels of family support, friends support and connectedness to the LGBT community were all significant predictors of loneliness in the regression analyses, but adjustment to aging was not. Conclusions These findings add to the international literature on the correlates of loneliness among older sexual minorities. Such findings may inform the development of psychosocial interventions and promote healthcare engagement among older sexual minorities, which are important steps toward reducing health disparities that affect this population.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hope and proximal and distal support in older portuguese sexual minority men

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar como os indicadores de suporte, ligação à comunidade LGBT, suporte social e satisfação relacional, predizem os níveis de esperança nos idosos gays e bissexuais portugueses, recorrendo ao Modelo de Stress Minoritário. Método: Efetuou-se um estudo transversal, utilizando questionários em formato digital; 110 idosos gays e bissexuais portugueses (idade média = 63,5 anos) completaram as versões em português da Escala Revista de Ajustamento Diádico, a Escala de Ligação à Comunidade LGBT e a Escala de Esperança de Herth. Resultados: Foi desenvolvido um modelo de equações estruturais. A idade não foi um preditor dos níveis de esperança; a satisfação relacional foi o principal preditor de esperança. Níveis mais elevados de satisfação relacional, suporte social e ligação à comunidade LGBT foram preditores significativos de esperança. A esperança apresenta-se como uma variável positiva importante na gestão do estigma do contexto social. Discussão: Estes resultados são importantes para fundamentar futuras intervenções psicossociais e para a saúde nos idosos minoritários, reduzindo em simultâneo a acentuada escassez de investigação nesta área.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sexual well-being in older adults: A qualitative study with older adults from Portugal and Slovenia

Introduction Beyond living longer, it is increasingly important to live with more and better health during aging; sexual well-being was found to contribute to health and well-being in old age and is highly under-researched in the older population. This study aims to analyze sexual well-being in a cross-cultural way through older Portuguese and Slovenian older samples. Methods We interviewed 136 older participants with an average age of 71.6 years old. Participants were Portuguese and Slovenian and lived in the community. Participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews and these were subjected to a content analysis process. Results The content analysis indicated nine themes related to sexual well-being: self-reported good health; demonstrations of love; non-sexual joint activities; overall well-being and quality of life; partner support; positive self-image; being independent and active; sexual compatibility; and masturbation. Conclusions Portuguese older adults experience their sexual well-being associated mainly with self-reported good health and demonstrations of love, while Slovenians older adults associate their sexual well-being mainly with non-sexual joint activities and overall well-being and quality of life. Policy Implications The themes found in this study are fundamental evidence for cultural interventions and guidelines outlining in the context of sexual health in aging, mainly due to the scarcity of knowledge of sexual well-being among older adults.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio