Concealing Concealment: The Mediating Role of Internalized Heterosexism in Psychological Distress Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults

Journal of Homosexuality
Charles P Hoy-Ellis

Abstract

Recent population-based studies indicate that sexual minorities aged 50 and older experience significantly higher rates of psychological distress than their heterosexual age-peers. The minority stress model has been useful in explaining disparately high rates of psychological distress among younger sexual minorities. The purpose of this study is to test a hypothesized structural relationship between two minority stressors--internalized heterosexism and concealment of sexual orientation--and consequent psychological distress among a sample of 2,349 lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults aged 50 to 95 years old. Structural equation modeling indicates that concealment has a nonsignificant direct effect on psychological distress but a significant indirect effect that is mediated through internalized heterosexism; the effect of concealment is itself concealed. This may explain divergent results regarding the role of concealment in psychological distress in other studies, and the implications will be discussed.

References

Oct 14, 2000·Archives of Family Medicine·B G ValanisR A Carter
Jan 14, 2005·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·J W Brehm
Sep 14, 2006·Annual Review of Psychology·David P MacKinnonMatthew S Fritz
Feb 13, 2007·Infant Behavior & Development·W Roger Mills-KoonceMartha Cox
Aug 25, 2007·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·Gregory M Herek, Linda D Garnets
Mar 5, 2008·Social Science & Medicine·David G Blanchflower, Andrew J Oswald
Oct 22, 2008·Journal of Public Health Management and Practice : JPHMP·David R WilliamsSelina A Mohammed
Nov 13, 2008·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Charles Silverstein
Oct 17, 2009·American Journal of Public Health·Mark L HatzenbuehlerDeborah S Hasin
Jan 1, 2008·Journal of LGBT Health Research·Nele CoxJohn Vinke
Jan 5, 2010·Journal of Counseling Psychology·David M Frost, Ilan H Meyer
Jan 27, 2010·The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry·Robert M KertznerMichael J Stirratt
Jan 27, 2010·The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry·Heather L CorlissTeresa E Seeman
Feb 24, 2011·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·Keren Lehavot, Jane M Simoni
Mar 16, 2011·Journal of Counseling Psychology·Lisette Kuyper, Tineke Fokkema
Mar 16, 2013·American Journal of Public Health·Mark L HatzenbuehlerBruce G Link
Jun 15, 2013·American Journal of Public Health·Karen I Fredriksen-GoldsenCharles P Hoy-Ellis
Dec 30, 2014·The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry·Karen I Fredriksen-GoldsenAnna Muraco
Sep 1, 2013·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·David J LickKerri L Johnson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 7, 2016·Aging & Mental Health·Charles P Hoy-Ellis, Karen I Fredriksen-Goldsen
Mar 14, 2019·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Jaime Perales-PuchaltEric D Vidoni
Mar 9, 2020·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Antonio PetruzzellaJustin A Lavner
Nov 5, 2020·Clinical Gerontologist·Michael T Vale, Toni L Bisconti
Aug 3, 2021·Alzheimer's & Dementia : Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·Jason D FlattChristopher A Taylor
Nov 24, 2021·Journal of Homosexuality·Charles P Hoy-Ellis

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.