Associations Between Sexual Orientation and Self-Perceptions of Aging: The Withering Role of Stress

The study objective was to investigate the differences between sexual minority and heterosexual individuals on multiple dimensions of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and examine the mediating role of stress. In the nationally representative German Ageing Survey, 257 sexual minority individuals were matched one-to-two with heterosexual individuals based on their age (mean 72 years) and sex (45% women). Cross-sectional linear regression and mediation models were estimated. Sexual orientation was not significantly associated with felt age or age-related perceived physical losses, personal growth, and self-knowledge. However, sexual minority individuals reported lower positive attitudes towards own aging (ATOA, Standardized β = -0.13) and more social losses (β = 0.11) than heterosexual individuals and the differences were partially mediated by stress. Although causality cannot be inferred, higher stress may explain why sexual minority individuals experience less positive ATOA and more social losses. Interventions to reduce stress and improve SPA may help in supporting sexual minority individuals' future wellbeing.