Sexual Orientation and Social Isolation from Early Adulthood to Early Midlife

Abstract

Although social isolation is a critical public health issue, there is a gap in understanding how it varies by sexual orientation. Using minority stress, minority strength, and life course perspectives, this study investigates how social isolation trajectories differ by sexual orientation from ages 18 to 42 using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (2001–2018, N = 30,250 observations). Results from growth curve models reveal that sexual minority respondents experience higher levels of isolation than heterosexual respondents from early adulthood to early midlife. Specifically, respondents who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual report the highest levels of social isolation; completely heterosexual respondents have the lowest levels; and mostly heterosexual respondents fall in between. Notably, mostly heterosexual respondents experience a more rapid increase in isolation than the other two groups. Analyses conducted separately by sex and each dimension of social isolation reveal important nuances.