Leader: Roberto Baiocco (Sapienza); Other collaborator(s):
Sexual and gender minority (LGBTQIA+) older adults are increasingly being recognized as minority subgroups with specific characteristics. On the one hand, they are considered the first LGBTQIA+ aging generation, with unique concerns resulting from aging within large heterosexist and ageist society, such as isolation, a lack of family ties, and discrimination in healthcare services. On the other hand, these many life stressors, if reflected on and processed, may enable LGBTQIA+ older adults to develop psychological well being and positive identity. Research is mandatory to identify resilience factors that LGBTQIA+ older adults develop to cope with heterosexist and ageist social contexts. Aging must be considered an emerging challenge for sexual and gender minority individuals and communities.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
- Finalized the approval of the local ethical committee (Prot. N. CERT_18C1B960945).
- Conducting a series of focus groups with older LGBTQ+ people in sport-related contexts.
- Develop a new interview to investigate older LGBTQ+ people’s past and present experiences of discrimination in sports and physical activity contexts.
- Started recruiting participants for the interview about LGBTQ+ people’s past and present experiences of discrimination in sports and physical activity contexts.
- Published a systematic review on physical activity and sport in older LGBTQ+ people(Pistella, J., Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Borghi, A. M., ... & Lucidi, F. (2024). Older LGBT+ Adults and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Data. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 1-26).
- Published a commentary regarding “gender diversity and sport (Pistella, J., & Baiocco, R. (2023). Gender Diversity and Sport: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Increasing Inclusivity. Journal of Homosexuality. Advance online publication. Doi: 10.1080/00918369.2023.2252965).
- Published a manuscript entitled: "Pistella, J., Entilli, L., & Baiocco, R. (2024). A Long Parents’ Journey After Children’s Coming Out: Obstacles, Relationships, Generativity, and Life Balance. Journal of Homosexuality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2024.2337730
- Poster presentation at the4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality (ICGSS)-14-16 March, Berlin.
- Symposium abstract for the 27th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) (scheduled in Lisbon, June 16-20).
- Poster abstract for Age-IT conference (scheduled in Venice, May 20-22).
- Short speech abstract for AIP- sezione sviluppo (scheduled in Cagliari, September 19-21)
- Starting the National Guidelines promoting inclusion of older LGBTQ+ people in sport-related contexts (We will submit in the next few months).
- Completed paper regarding how experiences of discrimination and prejudice, coming out, and personal resiliency could have an impact on the physical health of older lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. (Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Borghi, A. M., ... & Lucidi, F. (under review). Aging well in an aging society: Physical health in older lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. Frontiers in Psychology).
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
Policy implication:
- Improving awareness and visibility about predictors of older LGBTQ+ aging will shed light on sources of social discrimination toward this marginalized population to promote their physical and psychological well-being.
- Develop specific social policies for improving awareness and visibility of older LGBTQ+ people through specific social communication campaigns within sports-related contexts (e.g., posters, advertisements, brochures).
Practice Implication:
- Dissemination: Professional training for family doctors on LGBTQ+ issues and the well-being of LGBTQ+ elderly people
- Improving training programs about LGBTQ+ issues in older people for instructors and people who work in sports-related contexts to develop their cultural competencies.
- Develop national guidelines for instructors and people working in sports-related contexts to promote inclusive and welcoming contexts for older LGBTQ+ people.
- Finalized the approval of the local ethical committee (Prot. N.CERT_18C1B960945).
- Conducting a series of focus groups with older LGBTQ+ people in sport-related contexts.
- Develop a new interview to investigate older LGBTQ+ people’s past and present experiences of discrimination in sports and physical activity contexts.
- Started recruiting participants for the interview about LGBTQ+ people’s past and present experiences of discrimination in sports and physical activity contexts.
- Write a paper on general guidelines for trainers and staff who work in sports-related contexts about policy and inclusion of older LGBTQ+ adults (September- December, 2024)
- Thematic analyses of interviews about LGBTQ+ people’s past and present experiences of discrimination in sports and physical activity contexts and opinions about change in terms of inclusiveness (October-December, 2024);
- Submitted a paper to the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, entitled: "Invisible Hurdles": The Unique Challenges of Older Italian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in Sports and Physical Activities” (October 2024);
- The paper entitled 'LGBTQ+ Older People and Affirmative Sports Contexts: Indicators and Good Practice' has been accepted for publication in the Giornale Italiano di Psicologia (GIP), with publication expected by September 2025.
- Conducted thematic analysis and submission to the journal Ageing & Society of the manuscript entitled 'Older LGB Adults and Sport-Related Contexts: Discrimination, Evolving Environments, and Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ Sports Associations' for submission to Ageing & Society (April 2025).
- Currently revising the manuscript entitled 'Invisible Hurdles: The Unique Challenges of Older Italian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in Sports and Physical Activities', submitted to the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health (April 2025).
- Participated in the international AGEN 2025 – The Asian Conference on Aging & Gerontology (Tokyo, 24–29 March 2025), delivering an oral presentation entitled 'Living Beyond Prejudice: Examining the Relationship Between Discrimination and Sports and Physical Activity Participation in Older Italian Sexual Minority Adults
- Organization and oral presentation entitled “Ageing and Affectivity: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” at THE AGE OF ROCK: AGEING WELL, AGEISM AND CONTRASTING PREJUDICE Conference organized by Sapienza University of Rome (8th April, 2025)
- Participation in the roundtable discussion 'A Person-Centered Approach for Innovative and Equitable Lifecourse Health Services: Insights from Age-IT' during the two-day symposium 'One Health: Age-IT Synergies Across Disciplines and Organizations for Successful Ageing' (Naples, 22–23 June 2025).
- Abstract submission entitled “From Exclusion to Affirmation: Older LGB Adults’ Engagement with Evolving Sport-Related Contexts” at Second General Meeting di Age-IT (Naples, 29-31 October, 2025)."Older LGB Adults and Sport-related Contexts: Discrimination, Evolving Context, and Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ Sports Associations" has been successfully submitted online and is presently being given full consideration for publication in the Ageing & Society.
- Scrittura di un capitolo del libro dal titolo: Aging well in aging Society. MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACHES TO HEALTHY AGING IN THE PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL DOMAINS sul tema del benessere delle persone anziane LGBTQ+(in press)
- Conducted thematic analysis and submission to the journal Ageing & Society of the manuscript entitled 'Older LGB Adults and Sport-Related Contexts: Discrimination, Evolving Environments, and Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ Sports Associations' for submission to Ageing & Society (April 2025).
- Organization and oral presentation entitled “Ageing and Affectivity: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” at THE AGE OF ROCK: AGEING WELL, AGEISM AND CONTRASTING PREJUDICE Conference organized by Sapienza University of Rome (8th April, 2025)
- First round of reviews of the manuscript entitled 'Invisible Hurdles: The Unique Challenges of Older Italian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in Sports and Physical Activities', submitted to the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health (May, 2025).
- Abstract submission entitled “From Exclusion to Affirmation: Older LGB Adults’ Engagement with Evolving Sport-Related Contexts” at Second General Meeting di Age-IT (Naples, 29-31 October, 2025)."Older LGB Adults and Sport-related Contexts: Discrimination, Evolving Context, and Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ Sports Associations" has been successfully submitted online and is presently being given full consideration for publication in the Ageing & Society. (May, 2025)
- Writing a book chapter entitled:: Aging well in aging Society. MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACHES TO HEALTHY AGING IN THE PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL DOMAINS on older LGBTQ+ adults psychological and social well-being (in press) (April-May-June, 2025)
- Thanks to the support of the associations of older LGBTQ+ adults, we're creating short, impactful videos featuring interviews with older LGBTQ+ individuals. These videos aim to promote a culture of respect that transcends all forms of stereotypes and discrimination. Once complete, older adults of these associations will also play a key role in their dissemination (May-June, 2025).
- Organizing the Final Project Congress scheduled for December 2025. (May, 2025)
- Participation in the roundtable discussion 'A Person-Centered Approach for Innovative and Equitable Life course Health Services: Insights from Age-IT' during the two-day symposium 'One Health: Age-IT Synergies Across Disciplines and Organizations for Successful Ageing' (Naples, 22–23 June 2025).
- Organization and scheduling a round of presentations of the guidelines “LGBTQ+ Older People and Affirmative Sports Contexts: Indicators and Good Practice” at the Sapienza Sportive Center and sportive centers connected to the Sapienza University of Rome. (June, 2025)
- Presentation of the guidelines “Older People and Affirmative Sports Contexts: Indicators and Good Practice” to LGBTQ+ associations and LGBTQ+ sportive teams (e.g., Agapanto, Pesci Swimming group, Rugby team Raccoons). (June, 2025)
- Published a systematic review on physical activity and sport in older LGBTQ+ people (Pistella, J., Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Borghi, A. M., ... & Lucidi, F. (2024). Older LGBT+ Adults and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Data. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. Advance online publication. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-023-00925-w).
- Published a commentary regarding “Gender diversity and sport (Pistella, J., & Baiocco, R. (2023). Gender Diversity and Sport: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Increasing Inclusivity. Journal of Homosexuality. Advanced online publication. Doi:10.1080/00918369.2023.2252965).
- Published a manuscript on the role of coming out process, resilience and experiences of discrimination as predictors of physical health in older Italian LGBTQ+ adults (Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., Borghi, A. M., … & Lucidi, F. (2024). Aging well in an aging society: physical health in older lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 15,1369021.,DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1369021.
- Published a manuscript entitled: "Pistella, J., Entilli, L., & Baiocco, R. (2024). A Long Parents’ Journey After Children’s Coming Out: Obstacles, Relationships, Generativity, and Life Balance. Journal of Homosexuality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2024.2337730
- Presentation of a poster entitled “Antoniucci, C., Baiocco, R., Pistella, J., & Lucidi, F. “Promoting Physical Health in Sexual Minority Italian Adults: Obstacles and Resources” at the 4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality (ICGSS) (14-16 March, Berlin). https://www.dpublication.com/proceeding/4th-icgss/#Table-of-Contents.
- Organization of the conference “Giornalismo sportivo e persone LGBTQIA+” (28th July, Department of Development and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome). https://www.uniroma1.it/it/notizia/giornalismo-sportivo-e-persone-lgbtqia
- Participation at the symposium with a speech entitled: “Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., & Baiocco, R. Gender-typicality through generations: A study within a group of Italian families” for the 27th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) (Lisbon, June 16-20). https://2024biennial.issbd.org/#
- Presentation of a poster entitled “Antoniucci, C., Baiocco, R., Pistella, J., & Lucidi, F. Physical health and aging well in older LGB+ adults: The role of discrimination, coming out and personal resiliency” at r Age-IT conference (Venice, May 20-22). https://ageit.eu/wp/convegno-venezia-2024/
- Short speech entitled “Antoniucci, C., Lucidi, F., Micoli, A., & Baiocco, R. Sports and Physical Activity Through the Life Course: Experiences of Discrimination in Older Italian Sexual Minority Adults” presented at AIP- sezione sviluppo (Cagliari, September 19-21). https://aipass.org/eventi/xxxvi-congresso-nazionale-aip-sezione-psicologia-dello-sviluppo-e-delleducazione/
- Under review paper on general guidelines for trainers and staff who works in sports related contexts about policy and inclusion of older LGBTQ+ adults (“Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C., Pistella, J., Alessandri, G., Alivernini, F., …& Lucidi, F. (under review) Linee guida per rendere i contesti sportivi e di attività fisica luoghi sicuri e affermativi per le persone anziane LGBTQ+. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia.”)
- Under review paper on older LGBTQ+ adults’ past and present experiences of discrimination and exclusion in sport-related contexts (Baiocco, R., Antoniucci, C.,Entilli, L., Lucidi, F., Alessandri, G.,... & Pistella, J. (under review). "Invisible Hurdles": The Unique Challenges of Older Italian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in Sports and Physical Activities. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health.)
- Abstract submitted at 2nd Global Conference on Gender Studies (GENDERCONF, 01 - 03 November 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark).
- Abstract submitted at The Asian Conference on Aging & Gerontology (Tokyo, 24-29 March, 2025)
- Working on a paper regarding the generativity of older adults in sports and physical activity contexts, comparing older LGBTQ+ activists and non-activists. The paper will analyze how older LGBTQ+ activists might be more likely to engage in queer generative behaviors that focus on enhancing sexual minority identities and providing support to the sexual minority community, in the specific context of sports and physical activity. We would submit the paper to Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, an International journal with a high impact factor.