Discrimination and loneliness among transgender older adults

Abstract

Many members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) population have experienced marginalisation throughout their lives. Most related research has focused on the LGBT population in general; however, it is necessary to focus on transgender people because they are particularly socially marginalised and are at greater risk of stigmatisation and discrimination in various aspects across their lifespan and during old age. The aim of this research is to study the experiences of discrimination, the associated feelings of loneliness, and the social support of transgender people over the age of 45. A mixed methodology and a cross-sectional design were used. Twenty-seven transgender people aged 45–77 years answered an online questionnaire that combined open-ended and closed-ended questions. The results of this study revealed different situations of discrimination experienced by older transgender people (62.9 % said they had been discriminated against), low levels of social support (48.1 %) and high scores in loneliness (with 74.1 % of participants scoring high levels of loneliness). If high levels of loneliness and discrimination are related to various health problems, transgender people could find diverse difficulties during their ageing in addition to those of normal biological ageing. Knowing which situations of discrimination affect transgender older people and their relationship with psychological well-being will help to promote better ageing and assist in identifying the most appropriate targets for community-based psychosocial interventions.