Minority Stress and Resilience: A Preliminary Study of Elderly LGBTQ+ Well-being in Kolambugan

Abstract The narratives of elderly LGBTQ+ individuals in the Global South remain largely obscured within gerontological discourse, particularly regarding the efficacy of traditional support systems in agrarian settings. This research note investigated the baseline well-being and coping resources of fifty (N=50) elderly LGBTQ+ individuals in the municipality of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. Grounded in Meyer’s Minority Stress Theory, the study employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational design to assess the relationship between support systems (families of origin vs. families of choice) and multidimensional well-being. Results indicated that respondents possessed high levels of well-being (M=3.34), exhibiting strong psychological hardiness and social integration despite societal marginalization. While descriptive data suggested high levels of support from both friends (M=3.34) and family (M=3.27), inferential analysis revealed a critical divergence: peer support significantly correlated with well-being (r=.598, p<.001), whereas family support showed no statistically significant relationship (r=.258, p=.071). These findings challenged the monolithic cultural narrative of utang na loob (filial piety) as a sufficient safety net for sexual minorities, suggesting that for rural LGBTQ+ elders, "families of choice" serve as the primary buffer against minority stress. The study recommends that local policy interventions prioritize the formalization of peer support networks and the integration of SOGIE-sensitive training in rural geriatric care.