Symposia
LGBQT+
Nicholas Perry, Ph.D.
Research assistant professor
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Tamar Goldenberg, Ph.D.
Assistant professor
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
David Huebner, Ph.D., MPH
Associate Professor
George Washington University School of Public Health
Washington, District of Columbia
Andre Brown, Ph.D.
Assistant professor
University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Pittsurgh, Pennsylvania
Deanna Ware, MPH
Biostatistician
Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington, District of Columbia
Steven Meanley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Philadelphia, PA
Sabina Haberlen, Ph.D.
Assistant scientist
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Mark Brennan-Ing, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Evaluation
Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College, CUNY
New York, New York
James Egan, Ph.D.
Assistant professor
University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Linda Teplin, Ph.D.
Professor
feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois
Ken Ho, M.D.; MPH
Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Roger Detels, M.D., M.S.
Research professor
UCLA School of Public Health
Los Angeles, California
M. Reuel Friedman, Ph.D., MPH
Assistant professor
University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Michael Plankey, Ph.D.
Professor
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Washington, District of Columbia
Background: Mental health disparities persist in later life among older gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Less is known about potential contributors to mental health among older GBMSM. Close relationships can be a potent source of risk or resilience from stress, exerting direct relationships on mental health. Relationship processes may also link well-established associations between minority stress and mental health. This study examined associations of relationship support and strain from primary partners with mental health and tested them as mediators of the effects of internalized homophobia among older GBMSM.
Methods: The sample consisted of 517 GBMSM (M age = 60, SD = 8 years) from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, who were in primary relationships with men. Seventy-six percent of the sample identified as non-Hispanic/Latino White, 13% as non-Hispanic/Latino Black, and 8.5% as Hispanic Latino. Forty-two percent of the men were living with HIV. Men provided self-report data at four timepoints on qualities of their relationship with their primary partner, internalized homophobia, and mental health. We used multilevel modeling to examine longitudinal associations among relationship support and strain and internalized homophobia with depression and anxiety. All models controlled for relevant demographics (e.g., relationship length, race, HIV status, age).
Results: Relationship strain, but not support, was associated with depression and anxiety over time when both constructs were modeled together. There was a significant indirect effect of internalized homophobia on both depression and anxiety through strain, but not support. Participants who reported greater internalized homophobia reported higher relationship strain, which was associated with worse mental health longitudinally.
Conclusions: Results indicated that relationship strain is important for the mental health of older GBMSM in multiple ways, both directly and as a mediator of the associations of internalized homophobia with mental health over time. The role of partner support warrants further investigation. Mental health interventions are critically needed for older GBMSM. These findings suggest that such interventions should include strategies for directly reducing strain in primary partnerships, as well as addressing minority stress, to foster well-being for older GBMSM as they age.