title: Stress and mental health among midlife and older gay-identified men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated associations between stress and mental health (positive affect, depressive symptoms) among HIV-negative and HIV-positive midlife and older gay-identified men, along with the mediating and moderating effects of mastery and emotional support. We also studied the mental health effects of same-sex marriage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained data from self-administered questionnaires completed in 2009 or 2010 by a subsample (n = 202; average age = 56.91 years; age range = 44-75 years) of participants in the University of California, Los Angeles component of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, one of the largest and longest-running natural-history studies of HIV/AIDS in the United States.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both sexual minority stress (perceived gay-related stigma, excessive HIV bereavements) and aging-related stress (independence and fiscal concerns) appeared to have been detrimental to mental health. Sense of mastery partially mediated these associations. Being legally married was significantly protective net of all covariates, including having a domestic partner but not being married. Education, HIV status, and race/ethnicity had no significant effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual minority and aging-related stress significantly affected the emotional lives of these men. Personal sense of mastery may help to sustain them as they age. We observed specific mental health benefits of same-sex legal marriage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA. rwight@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Wight
authors.forename: Allen J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Detels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires