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Dissertation
DAILY ASSESSMENTS OF MINORITY STRESS IN A LIFESPAN SAMPLE OF SEXUAL MINORITIES
(2021)
  • Michael Vale, Sacred Heart University
Abstract
In the coming years there is expected to be an influx of older sexual minorities (OSM) as the baby-boomers enter old age. OSM are at risk for poorer well-being compared to their heterosexual counterparts, which is rooted in the stresses of being marginalized. Much evidence connects minority stressors, internalized homonegativity, outness, and microaggressions to poorer well-being; however, the understanding of the minority stress process is lacking as only a few stressors are studied as they happen. Furthermore, there is limited knowledge on how age contextualizes this process. OSM have witnessed unique sociopolitical climates, yet report less minority stress compared with younger adults (YSM), which may be a result of having greater resilience through expertise in social relationships, positive affect, motivational goals, and/or practice with previous experiences of discrimination. The current study explores age differences in the daily experiences of minority stress in a sample of sexual minorities stratified across the lifespan. Data from a baseline sample of 355 sexual minorities (ages 18-90) confirmed previous research that OSM experienced lower minority stress compared with their younger counterparts. Additionally, a subset of this sample (N = 112; ages 19-79) answered daily surveys for 3 weeks (N = 1,923 completed days). Older age moderated the daily stress-distress relationships among a variety of constructs, including outness disclosure and positive affect; internalized homonegativity and positive affect, negative affect, and depressive mood; and experienced microaggressions and negative affect. In essence, OSM had weaker relationships among daily minority stress and worse daily well-being. There also was support that the associations between age and minority stress were at least partially mediated by lifelong exposure with marginalization; however, there was minimal support that age-based social expertise, higher positive affect, and motivational goals mediated these relationships. This project adds to the study of minority stress, highlights the intersection of sexuality and aging, and provides novel support for the theory of crisis competence. The results of this study inform both theory and practice and contribute to a better understanding of OSM and how to address OSM’ health disparities.
Keywords
  • minority stress,
  • LGB aging,
  • stress process,
  • daily assessment
Publication Date
July, 2021
Degree
Ph.D.
Comments
A Dissertation Presented to The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron. Copyright Michael Vale. All rights reserved.
Citation Information
Vale, M. T. (2021). Daily Assessments of Minority Stress in a Lifespan Sample of Sexual Minorities [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1627313816755078
Creative Commons license
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-NC-ND International License.