Effects of Unequal Treatment, Verbal Harassment, and Physical Violence on Subjective Cognitive Health Among Middle-Aged and Older LGBTQ Adults: Variation by Type and Basis of Victimization

Ann LGBTQ Public Popul Health. 2025 Jul;6(2):142-163. doi: 10.1891/lgbtq-2024-0004.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated how different forms of victimization influence subjective cognitive health among middle-age and older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adults. Using data from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study, we applied Poisson regression models to examine the effects of victimization experiences, including variation by type and basis of victimization, on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Regarding victimization type, we tested the effects of experiencing unequal treatment, verbal harassment, and physical attack in the last year on number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. We also examined the effects of experiencing victimization based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, and race or ethnicity on number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Respondents who experienced victimization in the past year reported higher rates of cognitive difficulties than respondents who did not experience victimization. These results varied by victimization type. Experiencing unequal treatment and verbal harassment in the last year were associated with higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Experiencing physical attack did not significantly predict higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Finally, experiencing victimization based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity and age all predicted higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Taken together, these results demonstrate how different forms of victimization could harm cognitive health among LGBTQ populations and generate cognitive health disparities.

PMID:42028033 | PMC:PMC13102315 | DOI:10.1891/lgbtq-2024-0004