THE MENTAL HEALTH OF AGING SEXUAL MINORITIES IN CANADA: FINDINGS FROM THE CANADIAN LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGING (CLSA)

摘要

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a national population health study that will follow approximately 50,000 adults aged 45–85 over the next 20 years. At baseline, 1,057 participants (i.e., 2%) within the CLSA self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). The purpose of this presentation is to examine differences in mental health between LGB and heterosexual participants in the CLSA. Depressive symptoms were evaluated through the short form of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression (CES-D10) scale. Results indicated that LGB participants had greater odds of being categorized as depressed. In addition, gay and bisexual males were found to have lower levels of perceived social support relative to heterosexual males. Results highlight the importance of mental health services for aging sexual minorities in order to support a diverse aging population. Following the mental health trajectories of minority participants in the CLSA as they reach older ages will be essential to better understanding the relationship between the social determinants of health and aging in Canada.