Mental and cognitive health in the aging sexual minority populations

Despite the increasing number of aging population in Canada and the number of studies that are reporting the negative health outcomes of LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) people, aging sexual minority adults are rarely visible in current bodies of literature. The proposed research project aims to examine how minority status related stress impacts the mental and cognitive health outcomes of sexual minority people. Key environmental and social factors such as social support, elder abuse, childhood maltreatment, and material deprivation that are outlined in Minority Stress Theory will be explored in order to help us understand the relationship between minority status related stress and well-being.