LGB widowhood: the association between partner loss and psychological well-being

ABSTRACT Few studies of widowhood’s effects on psychological well-being focus on sexual minorities. Of those that do, none employ large, nationally representative samples, and none examine whether the effects depend on current partner status. Using the 2010 Ageing with Pride: National Health, Ageing, and Sexuality/Gender Study (n = 2,325), we examine the association between partner loss and psychological well-being, measured as depressive symptoms, loneliness, self-rated mental health, and life satisfaction. We find that partner loss is associated with psychological well-being, but only among currently unpartnered respondents: Compared with their peers who have never experienced partner death, those who have report more depressive symptoms – but also higher life satisfaction. These findings hold for women and men, as do the findings revealing positive associations between having a current partner and experiencing better psychological well-being. Applied to the clinical setting, our study highlights the importance of assessing not only current partner status but also prior experiences of loss, as both have implications for the psychological well-being of LGB women and men.