The Meaning of Friendship for Gay Men and Lesbians in the Second Half of Life

The social support networks of 416 lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults aged 60 to 91 years were examined. Participants averaged 6 people in their support networks, most of whom were close friends. The gender composition of support networks was greatly influenced by the gender of the respondent. Most support network members knew about respondents' sexual orientation. The most common type of support provided by close friends and social acquaintances was socializing support, and the most common support provided by partners, siblings, and other relatives was emotional support. The sexual orientation, gender, and age of network members did not influence respondents' satisfaction with the support received. Participants were more satisfied with support from those who knew of their sexual orientation. The more satisfied respondents felt with the support they received, the less lonely they felt. Those living with domestic partners were less lonely and rated their physical and mental health more positively than those who lived alone.