Title: Investigation of Quality of Life, Harmony, Healthy Behaviors for Aging, Perceived Stress, Disparities in Healthcare, Microaggressions, and Discrimination as Predictors of Satisfaction With Life for Older Black Lesbians
Description: The sample (N=118) was mostly Lesbian (85.6%, n=101) with a mean age of 60.81 years (min=50, max=86, SD=7). Most (55.1%, n=65) lived with a partner, including 25.4% (n=30) being married. The education mean (=category 4.37, min=1, max=6, SD=1.123) was between Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, 48.3% were employed full-time (n=57), 26.3% (n=31) retired, and the annual household income was $50,000 – $99,999 (mean=5.13; SD=1.392). They reported good health (mean=4.04; min=1, max=6, SD=0.789) with an overweight Body Mass Index (BMI mean=32.77; min=17.97, max=57.32, SD=8.03). Quality ratings showed: healthcare received was closest to very good (mean= 4.68; min=1, max=6, SD=1.205); care received from primary care provider was between very good and excellent (mean=4.54; min=1, max=6, SD=1.174); providers’ sensitivity/cultural competence for sexual orientation was closest to very good (mean=4.70; min=1, max=6, SD=1.182); providers’ sensitivity/cultural competence for race was between good to very good (mean=4.57; min=1, max=6, SD=1.178); and providers’ openness to hearing about/accepting sexual orientation was closest to very open (mean=3.77; min=1, max=5, SD=0.937).

The majority (71.2% (n=84) experienced discrimination in the healthcare system—for being Black (64.4%, n=76), a woman (48.4%, n=57), overweight/obese (31.4%, n=54), or appearance (29.7%, n=35).Findings for performing 9 behaviors for healthy aging showed: 1-stages of change mean=4.283 (min=1.44, max=5, SD=0.663) was closest to action stage; 2-self-efficacy mean=5.171 (min=3, max=6, SD=0.703) was 80% confident; 3-knowledge mean = 5.811 (min=3.22, max=7, SD=0.916) was closest to a high level of knowledge; and, 4-motivation mean=5.57 (min=3.44, max=7, SD=0.935) was between moderate and high. They had moderately high: satisfaction with life (SWLS-3 mean=5.223, min=1.33, max=7, SD=1.272); overall life satisfaction (LSS-1, mean=7.50, min=2, max=10, SD=1.834); and harmony in life (mean=5.407; min=2, max=7, SD=1.184). Backwards stepwise regression, controlling for social desirability, indicated higher Satisfaction with Life (SWLS-3) was significantly predicted by: Higher harmony in life (B=0.714, p=0.000); Higher annual household income (B=0.155, p=0.004); Higher provider sensitivity/cultural competence to their patient being Black (B=0.208, p=0.002)—with 62.4% of variance explained (R2=0.615, adjusted R2=0.624; F=25.483, p=.000) by the model. Qualitative data amplified findings.