The Association Between LGBT Older Adults’ Social Network Size, Composition and Emotional Wellbeing: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support

Few studies have examined the relationship between both the structural and functional aspects of LGBT older adults' social networks and their emotional wellbeing. Using data from a national sample of LGBT Americans aged 50 years and older, structural equation models were estimated to examine the mediating role of perceived social support for the relationship between social network size and composition and depressive symptoms and loneliness. Models were estimated with total social network size, and then grouped by LGBT and non-LGBT identity, and age composition (≥50 vs <50). Total social network size had a direct and indirect association with emotional wellbeing, with the indirect association mediated by perceived social support. Although perceived social support mediated the association between both LGBT and non-LGBT social network size and emotional wellbeing, the mediation effect for LGBT network size was larger. Perceived social support mediated the association between the social network size of members aged 50 years or older and emotional wellbeing, while the social network size of members less than 50 years old had no significant direct or indirect association. Due to shared experiences, LGBT older adults may feel more supported by similar others, and therefore, these networks were likely more advantageous for their emotional wellbeing.