Abstract

Objectives

Physical and mental health disparities were explored among Israeli middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men alongside the moderating role of age, relationship status, and place of birth.

Method

173 middle-aged and older gay men were individually matched with 173 middle-aged and older heterosexual men at the age range of 50–86 (M = 60.56, SD = 8.42). All participants completed measures of doctor visits, physical health comorbidity, depressive symptoms, and anxiety.

Results

Israeli middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men did not significantly differ on physical or mental health indicators. However, a more differential analysis revealed that older age and relationship status had a moderating role, such that older gay men reported more physical health comorbidity in comparison to older heterosexual men. Similarly, gay men who were not in a steady relationship reported more frequent visits to the doctor and more anxiety in comparison to heterosexual men who were not in a steady relationship. Additionally, immigration history appeared as a potential resiliency factor, such that gay men who were not born in Israel reported less frequent doctor visits and less anxiety in comparison to heterosexual men who were not born in Israel.

Conclusions

This study presents a pioneering examination of physical and mental health disparities in an Israeli sample of middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men. These results may call the attention of clinicians and policymakers to both vulnerabilities and strengths of middle-aged and older gay men.

中文翻译：

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以色列同性恋和异性恋中老年男性身心健康差异的社会人口统计数据的缓和

摘要

目标

除了年龄、关系状况和出生地的调节作用之外，还探讨了以色列中年和老年同性恋和异性恋男性的身心健康差异。

方法

173名中老年男同性恋者分别与173名中老年异性恋男性配对，年龄范围为50-86岁（M  =60.56，SD=8.42）。所有参与者都完成了就诊、身体健康合并症、抑郁症状和焦虑的测量。

结果

以色列中年和老年男同性恋和异性恋男性在身体或心理健康指标上没有显着差异。然而，一项更具差异性的分析显示，年龄较大和关系状况具有调节作用，因此与年长的异性恋男性相比，年长的男同性恋者报告了更多的身体健康合并症。同样，与没有稳定关系的异性恋男性相比，没有稳定关系的男同性恋者报告看医生的频率更高，焦虑程度更高。此外，移民历史似乎是一个潜在的弹性因素，因此与非以色列出生的异性恋男性相比，非以色列出生的男同性恋者报告的就诊频率和焦虑程度较低。

结论

这项研究对以色列中年和老年男同性恋和异性恋男性样本的身心健康差异进行了开创性的检查。这些结果可能会引起临床医生和政策制定者对中老年男同性恋者的弱点和优势的关注。