Disclosure of Sexual Orientation, Victimization, and Mental Health Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults

Examined the lifetime victimization based on sexual orientation of 416 lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) older adults aged 60 yrs or older. Frequencies of nine kinds of verbal & physical victimization were obtained. Nearly three quarters reported some kind of sexual orientation victimization. Men reported more overall victimization than women. The more open participants were about their sexual orientation & the less time they spent before disclosing their sexual orientation, the more victimization they reported. Participants who had been physically attacked reported lower self-esteem, poorer mental health, & more suicide attempts