138 research outputs found
Silver Rainbow
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade em Psicologia ClÃnicaEspera-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 indivÃduos. 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 constituÃda 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 nÃveis de coming out contribuem para a explicação da satisfação relacional. Verifica-se que o duplo estigma explica significativamente os nÃveis 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research demonstrates a significant increase of the LGBT population in this age group, and literature is currently outdated and insufficient, and does not seem to address the needs of these individuals.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
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
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 nÃveis 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
nÃveis de esperança; a satisfação relacional foi o principal preditor de esperança. NÃveis
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
What distresses sexual well-being among older adults in different cultures? A qualitative study with Slovenian and Portuguese older adults
Objective To analyze the perspectives of sexual unwellness (SU) of Portuguese and Slovenian older adults was the objective
of this study. A qualitative research was carried out, in which these perceptions were analyzed at a cultural level.
Methods The sample of this study consisted of 136 older participants, between 65 and 96 years of age. Participants were
of two different nationalities and lived in the community. Participants were interviewed, and all interviews were carried out
through the process of literal transcription and subsequent content analysis.
Results Eight key mutually exclusive themes emerged from the interviews: unavailability of partner; traditional values; body
restrictions; low self-esteem and well-being; poor social support; dissatisfaction with physical appearance; pain during sex;
and difficulties meeting new people. Unavailability of partner was the most important theme (17.9%) for the studied sample
and specifically among Portuguese participants. Conversely, difficulties meeting new people were the least reported theme
(6.8%) for the entire sample. For Slovenians traditional values were most relevant with respect to feeling sexually unwell.
Conclusions Older adults from two different countries reported diverse sexual experiences. Eight mutual-exclusive themes
were extensively illustrated.
Policy Implications These findings are evidence for cultural-adapted interventions and policy making in the context of older
adults’ sexual well-being, particularly in terms of its relation with aging well.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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