Risk and protective factors associated with health-related quality of life among older gay and bisexual men living with HIV disease.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk and protective factors associated with mental and physical health-related quality of life, after controlling for key background characteristics, in a population of older gay and bisexual men living with HIV disease. Previous research examining quality of life among persons living with HIV rarely includes older adults.


METHODS
Survey responses from 226 gay and bisexual men aged 50 and older, and living with HIV disease, which were part of the Caring and Aging with Pride study, were analyzed using multivariate linear regression models.


RESULTS
Findings reveal that comorbidity, limitations in activities, and victimization are significant risk factors for decreased physical and mental health-related quality of life. Stigma and HIV progression did not contribute to the overall outcome variables in multivariate models. Social support and self-efficacy serve as protective factors although social support was only significant with mental health-related quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Comorbidity, functional limitations, and lifetime victimization are risks to quality of life among older gay and bisexual men with HIV disease. Self-efficacy and social support represent intrapersonal and interpersonal resources that can be enhanced through interventions to improve health-related quality of life.
*Address correspondence to Charles A. Emlet, MSW, Social Work Program, University of Washington Tacoma, 1900 Commerce St. Campus Box 358425, Tacoma, WA 98402. E-mail: caemlet@u.washington.edu.
Charles A
CA
Emlet
Karen I
KI
Fredriksen-Goldsen
Hyun-Jun
HJ
Kim
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
HIV disease; LGBT aging; aging; gay and bisexual men; quality of life; resilience