Correlates of Loneliness in Midlife and Older Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

This study examined the correlates of psychosocial and behavioral factors on loneliness in midlife and older gay and bisexual men in South Florida. A community-based sample of 802 self-identified gay and bisexual men ages 40 to 94 years completed standardized measures of life orientation (optimism versus pessimism), internalized homonegativity, coping self-efficacy, and loneliness. Multivariate modeling successfully explained 45% of the variance in loneliness, which was significantly related to life orientation, coping self-efficacy, internalized homonegativity, and finding partners on the Internet (F = 96.140, df = 6, p < .001). The emphasis on skills building to increase coping self-efficacy and optimism and addressing the effects of internalized homonegativity may have lasting effects in reducing loneliness in older gay and bisexual men and thus improving their mental and physical well-being.