title: GayBy Boomers' social support: exploring the connection between health and emotional and instrumental support in older gay men.
abstract: We evaluate the association between emotional and instrumental support and perceived health and depression symptoms in a sample of 182 gay/bisexual men age ≥ 55. Perceived health was positively correlated with number of sources of emotional support and depression was negatively associated with instrumental support and health care providers' knowledge of patients' sexual orientation. Depression mediates the connection between providers' knowledge of patients' sexual orientation and perceived health. Number of sources of emotional support varied negatively with age and ethnic minority status, and positively with living with a partner. Instrumental support seemed to be dependent on living with a partner.
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health , University of Illinois-Chicago , Chicago , Illinois , USA.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Valles
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dirkes
authors.forename: Hope A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D006304:Health Status; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology
keywords: aging; gay men; older men; perceived health; social support