Older LGBT+ health inequalities in the United Kingdom: Setting a research agenda

Westwood, Sue, Willis, Paul, Fish, Julie, Hafford-Letchfield, Trish, Semlyen, Joanna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5372-1344, King, Andrew, Beach, Brian, Almack, Kathryn, Kneale, Dylan, Toze, Michael and Becarer, Laia (2020) Older LGBT+ health inequalities in the United Kingdom: Setting a research agenda. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 74 (5). pp. 408-411. ISSN 0143-005X

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Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans+a (LGBT+) people report poorer health than the general population and worse experiences of healthcare particularly cancer, palliative/end-of-life, dementia and mental health provision. This is attributable to: a) social inequalities, including ‘minority stress’; b) associated health-risk behaviours (e.g. smoking, excessive drug/alcohol use, obesity); c) loneliness and isolation, affecting physical/mental health and mortality; d) anticipated/experienced discrimination and e) inadequate understandings of needs among healthcare providers. Older LGBT+ people are particularly affected, due to the effects of both cumulative disadvantage and ageing. There is a need for greater and more robust research data to support growing international and national government initiatives aimed at addressing these health inequalities. We identify seven key research strategies: 1) Production of large datasets; 2) Comparative data collection; 3) Addressing diversity and intersectionality among LGBT+ older people; 4) Investigation of healthcare services’ capacity to deliver LGBT+ affirmative healthcare and associated education and training needs; 5) Identification of effective health promotion and/or treatment interventions for older LGBT+ people, and sub-groups within this umbrella category; 6) Development an (older) LGBT+ health equity model; 7) Utilisation of social justice concepts to ensure meaningful, change-orientated data production which will inform and support government policy, health promotion and healthcare interventions.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: ageing,health inequalities,social inequalities,epidemiology,public health, environmental and occupational health,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2713
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2020 09:01
Last Modified: 06 Jun 2024 15:09
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/74371
DOI: 10.1136/jech-2019-213068

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