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Associations of Faith Community Rejection With Social Support and Health Outcomes Among LGBTQ+ Older Adults

  • 0Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences +

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January 27, 2025

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January 27, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Faith community rejection negatively impacts social support and health for LGBTQ+ older adults. Affirming faith communities are crucial for inclusive aging care and prevention strategies.

Area Of Science

  • Gerontology
  • Sociology of Religion
  • Public Health

Background

  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) older adults face diverse experiences within faith communities, from acceptance to religious trauma.
  • Faith community rejection can significantly impact the well-being of LGBTQ+ older adults, particularly in the Southern United States.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the association between LGBTQ-related faith community rejection and social support.
  • To examine the impact of faith community rejection on health outcomes among LGBTQ+ older adults in the Southern U.S.

Main Methods

  • Analysis of Wave 1 data from the LGBTQ+ Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study (QSNAPS) (n=1,256).
  • Participants were LGBTQ+ adults aged 50+ residing in four Southern U.S. states.
  • Bivariate and Poisson regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between faith community rejection, social support, and health indicators.

Main Results

  • Nearly half (44%) of respondents reported LGBTQ-related faith community rejection.
  • Rejection was more prevalent among transgender/gender diverse and minoritized racial/ethnic individuals.
  • Faith community rejection was associated with lower family support, higher psychological distress, poorer sleep quality, and increased risk of high blood pressure and subjective cognitive decline.

Conclusions

  • Faith community rejection imposes significant social support and health burdens on LGBTQ+ older adults.
  • Findings underscore the necessity of faith integration and inclusivity within faith communities for LGBTQ+ aging care.
  • Promoting affirming faith environments is vital for the health and well-being of aging LGBTQ+ populations.

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