LAUSR

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We applied the Minority Stress Model to sexual minority older adults to examine how distal minority stressors of ageism and heterosexism related to psychological well-being (life satisfaction, quality of life, psychological distress, loneliness). We investigated social support and in-group social contact as stress-ameliorating factors and tested for a potential intersection of stress due to minority identities. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A sample of 189 sexual minority older adults (50-86 years; M = 60.41) completed survey measures online. Hierarchical regression analyses with interaction terms were utilized to test study hypotheses. RESULTS Findings offered partial support for the Minority Stress Model. Large effect sizes were obtained, explaining 32%-56% of the variance in psychological well-being with models including ageism, heterosexism, stress-ameliorating factors, and demographics. Ageism and heterosexism related to greater psychological distress; however, heterosexism became non-significant after controlling for stress-ameliorating factors. Ageism and heterosexism's relations to loneliness and quality of life followed similar patterns. Social support was a strong predictor of better psychological well-being for all measures. In-group social contact buffered against distress resulting from ageism, but heightened distress resulting from heterosexism. The interaction of ageism and heterosexism was not significant. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Ageism was a distinct source of distress for sexual minority older adults. Although social support emerged as crucial to well-being, the mixed findings related to in-group contact as a stress-ameliorating factor may indicate a need for tailored social engagement to optimize community connection as protective for sexual minority older adults.