Examining Intersectional Role of Race, Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation in Health Disparities Among Older Adults

TL;DR

This study finds that older LGB adults who are also racially or ethnically minoritized face greater health disparities due to combined social disadvantages.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence of synergistic health disparities among intersectionally minoritized LGB older adults in the U.S.

Findings

Among older women, LGB individuals of color showed synergistic disparities in cardiovascular disease.

Hispanic LGB men had synergistic disparities in asthma and mental distress.

Black and other LGB individuals of color showed multiple synergistic health disparities, including cognitive and physical impairments.

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults who are racially/ethnically minoritized may face heightened health disadvantages due to their combined impact inclusive of the risks due to each social position and any excess risks beyond (i.e., synergistic effect), yet empirical evidence remains scarce. To address this gap, we used the 2012-2023 National Health Interview Survey to examine intersectional health disparities among Hispanic, Black, Asian, and other individuals of color within LGB adults age 50+ in the United States. Using non-Hispanic White heterosexuals as the referent and stratifying by gender, we estimated joint health disparities by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity and tested synergistic effects while adjusting for age, education, and income. Among older women, we observed joint disparities, predominately driven by synergistic effects, in cardiovascular disease for other LGB individuals of color (risk difference [RD] 15.5 percentage points [pp], 95% CI 5.5-25.6). Among older men, joint disparities, largely driven by synergistic effects, were observed in asthma (6.1 pp, 95% CI 0.0-12.2) and mental distress (16.4 pp, 5.5-27.3) for Hispanic LGB individuals; cognitive (12.7 pp, 3.0-22.4) and vision impairments (3.4 pp, 3.7-23.1) for Black LGB individuals; and limited physical functioning (15.1 pp, 3.2-26.9), anxiety (28.8 pp, 12.8-44.9), depression (24.5 pp, 8.4-40.5), and poor general health (21.9 pp, 8.1-35.7) for other LGB individuals of color. Overall, health disparity patterns in LGB older adults varied across race/ethnicity, lending some support for the synergistic multiple disadvantage hypothesis. There is a need for future research on intersectionality to identify modifiable mechanisms to eliminate health disparities.