Adversity, identity, and aging: understanding health trajectories among LGBTQ+ older Canadians

Project Summary

As Canada’s LGBTQ+ population ages, many older adults face unique health challenges shaped by a lifetime of stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion. This project explores how early and ongoing adversity, including childhood trauma, violence, poverty, and unmet health care needs, affects mental, social, and cognitive health over time in LGBTQ+ older adults. Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we examine how these experiences intersect with sexual and gender identity to shape aging outcomes. We also explore factors that may protect health, such as social support and physical activity. Our goal is to better understand the long-term effects of inequality and identify ways to support healthy aging for LGBTQ+ people. This research will help guide inclusive policies and programs that promote equity and dignity in later life.