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Men volunteering to mentor other men is a growing form of social engagement in Australia. Masculine norms associated with not disclosing emotional distress or discussing loneliness are often set aside by participating in these one‐to‐one relationships. Mentors have reported improvement in their well‐being and a desire to contribute more. In this phenomenological study, which draws on hermeneutic methodology, 12 men who voluntarily met and mentored another adult man for a minimum of 6 months participated in a semi‐structured interview. Findings showed non‐judgement and deep listening facilitated a rewarding and personally developmental relationship. Most voluntary mentors experienced substantial changes in their masculine views, particularly with the regard to trust and openness with others. This experience has implications for men realising their ability to engage others and for community well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary western cultures, such as Australia, there is increasing reported social disconnection. This disconnection is associated with loneliness and for some suicide, particularly for men. Voluntary male mentoring organisations aim to socially connect and improve men's wellbeing through facilitating men's one‐to‐one relationships. As is the case with most people, men value someone with whom they may communicate openly and safely, as occurs in voluntary mentoring. However, there is limited research on voluntary male mentoring or the experiences of the participants. This scoping review of the literature from voluntary adult male mentoring thematically synthesises the reported narratives from mentors. A systematic search was undertaken of five academic databases on voluntary adult male mentoring for scholarly articles in English. Additionally, the returned articles had their references reviewed for relevant authoritative reports and publications. After duplicates were removed, there were 471 publications. Sources included publications from humanities, social science, psychology and the health sciences. Once screened for eligibility this number was reduced to 29 publications. A thematic synthesis of the literature found the concepts of intentional relationship, journey and mutual growth were present. The implications of these findings are that men in community settings, informed by the experience of voluntary mentors, may be prepared to engage with other men. Additional research on the lived experience of mentors may offer further insights into facilitating male connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to examine the health and well being of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, the health issues that concern them, the services they use and challenges accessing services. Methods. This study comprised a survey of the health and well being of 312 LGBTI people aged 50 years and over in New South Wales. The survey included the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) measure of health-related quality of life, the Kessler 10 (K10) measure of psychological distress, and the three-item Loneliness Scale. Results. Higher levels of psychological distress, lower mental health and greater loneliness were found among this sample than is typically found in the general population. Mental health was lower among carers and those not in a relationship, while psychological distress was greater among those living alone and those experiencing higher rates of loneliness. The most commonly accessed health service was a general practitioner (GP), with most respondents reporting that they were open about their sexuality to their GP and that they had a regular GP. Some reported difficulties accessing health services because of their gender or sexual diversity. Conclusions. Although many older LGBTI people are well, both physically and mentally, they do appear to face increased risk of certain health issues compared with the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older people has been recognized, there is limited understanding of its impact on older trans and gender diverse people who often have different experiences of care and support than the general population. This article examines older trans and gender diverse people's experience of social support during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a comparative mixed method survey administered in Australia and the United Kingdom. Using a non-probability sample of 84 participants who were connected to social media and service organizations in the United Kingdom and Australia, we found some commonalities and differences between experiences in these countries. Some participants were isolated, including almost 1 in 5 participants who said that they did not have someone they could call upon in an emergency. However, participants had rich networks of friends, partners, and family members. Religious organizations and the community also played an important role. Friends were reported as the main emergency contacts and as the main people to whom support is provided. This research supports previous findings that friends of trans and gender diverse people play an important role in well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work education is responsible for developing graduates who can practice resilience in an increasingly complex and stressful human services environment. Resilience is a frequently used concept in social work, however, its application is diverse, and meaning lacks clarity. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 23 Australian Master of Social Work (Qualifying) students, exploring their understanding of professional resilience, including the conceptualisation and perceived relevance for future practice. Critical theory guided the thematic analysis of the data, with similarities and differences noted across subjective representations. The findings identified a contemporary yet individualised and one-dimensional understanding of professional resilience, influenced by dominant discourse and context. Professional resilience was seen as an essential attribute required to protect social workers from the intrinsic complexity and resulting impacts of practice. Implications for the role of education in fostering resilience in social work students to support them to navigate future practice complexities include: facilitating the development of a multidimensional and systemic understanding of self; creating safe, relationship-based environments for shared learning and growth; and teaching critically reflective processes which consider context and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phase 1 clinical trials remain vital for oncology care. Patients on these trials require supportive care for quality-of-life (QOL) concerns. Objective: To test a Palliative Care Intervention (PCI) for patients with solid tumors enrolled in Phase I therapeutic trials with a priori hypothesis that psychological distress, QOL, satisfaction, symptoms, and resource utilization would be improved in the PCI group. Design: This unblinded randomized trial compared the PCI with usual care in patients accrued to Phase I Clinical Trials. Subjects (n = 479) were followed for 24 weeks, with 12 weeks as the primary outcome. Setting: Two Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States. Subjects: A consecutive sample, 21 years or older, English fluency, with solid tumors initiating a Phase 1 trial. Measurements: Psychological Distress (Distress Thermometer), QOL total and subscales (FACT-G), satisfaction (FAM-CARE), survival, and resource utilization (chart audit). Results: PCI subjects showed improved Psychological Distress (−0.47, p = 0.015) and Emotional Well-Being (0.81, p = 0.045), with differences on variables of QOL and distress between sites. High rates of symptom-management admissions (41.3%) and low rates of Advance Directive completion (39.0%), and hospice enrollment (30.7%), despite a median survival in both groups of 10.1 months from initiating a Phase 1 study. Conclusions: A nurse-delivered PCI can improve some QOL outcomes and distress for patients participating in Phase 1 trials. Greater integration of PC is needed to provide quality care to these patients and to support transitions from treatment to supportive care, especially at the end of life. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01612598. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively little research has examined ageism among older lesbian and gay adults. In this study, we investigated how ageism, as well as sexuality-related stigma, relate to mental health and well-being in these groups. Six hundred and thirteen lesbian women and gay men aged 60+ in Australia completed a nationwide survey. We investigated how experiences of ageism, concerns about having one's sexual orientation accepted by others (as one broad indicator of sexuality-related stigma), and their interactions, predict psychological distress, positive mental health, and resilience. Among the lesbian women, experiences of ageism predicted greater psychological distress and lower positive mental health, while sexuality acceptance concerns predicted poorer outcomes on all three well-being measures. Among the gay men, experiences of ageism and sexuality acceptance concerns predicted poorer outcomes on all the well-being measures. In addition, the gay men who were higher on sexuality acceptance concerns had higher psychological distress and lower resilience, but only when they also had greater experiences of ageism. Findings suggest that those concerned with the well-being of lesbian and gay people should account for not only the potential impact of sexuality acceptance concerns but also ageism, and how these two factors may interact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the potential health-related impact of recent versus lifetime experiences of sexual orientation discrimination among older Australian lesbian women and gay men. In a nationwide survey, a sample of 243 lesbian women and 513 gay men aged 60 years and over reported on their experiences of sexual orientation discrimination and their mental and physical health, including psychological distress, positive mental health and self-rated health. Among both lesbian women and gay men, recent discrimination uniquely predicted lower positive mental health after adjusting for experiences of discrimination across the lifetime and socio-demographic variables. In addition, recent discrimination uniquely predicted higher psychological distress among gay men. Experiences of discrimination over the lifetime further predicted higher psychological distress and poorer self-rated health among gay men after adjusting for recent experiences of discrimination and socio-demographic variables. However, there were no associations between lifetime discrimination and any of the outcome variables among lesbian women. Overall, recent and lifetime experiences of sexual orientation discrimination were related to mental and physical health in different ways, especially among the men. These findings have potential implications for policy/practice, and suggest that distinguishing between recent and lifetime experiences of discrimination may be useful when assessing potential health-related impacts of sexual orientation discrimination among older lesbian women and gay men, while also taking account of differences between these two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Volunteering is associated with positive well-being among older people, providing opportunities to stay active and socially connected. This may be especially relevant for older lesbian and gay people, who are less likely than heterosexual people to have a partner, children or support from their family of origin. Methods: Patterns of volunteering and mental, physical and social well-being were examined in a sample of 754 lesbian and gay adults in Australia aged 60 years and older who completed a nationwide survey. Results: Volunteers reported greater positive mental health than non-volunteers. Among the gay men, volunteers additionally reported higher self-rated health and social support and lower psychological distress. Both the lesbian women and gay men who volunteered for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) organisations also reported greater LGBTI community connectedness than volunteers for non-LGBTI organisations. Discussion: These findings provide further insight into potential factors associated with the well-being of older lesbian and gay adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal care‐givers play an important role in society, and many of the people who provide this care are lesbian women and gay men. Being a care‐giver is known to be associated with poorer health and well‐being, and lesbian and gay care‐givers report experiences of stigma and discrimination in the care‐giving context. This study involved a survey of 230 lesbian women and 503 gay men aged 60 years and over living in Australia, of which 218 were care‐givers. We compared care‐givers to non‐caregivers on a range of health and well‐being measures, including psychological distress, positive mental health, physical health and social support. While we found no significant differences between these two groups, we further compared care‐givers who were caring for an LGBTI person to those who were caring for a non‐LGBTI person. Among the lesbian women, care‐givers of an LGBTI person reported feeling less supported in their carer role and reported lower levels of social support more generally. They were also lower on positive mental health and physical health indicators. Among the gay men, care‐givers of an LGBTI person also reported feeling less supported in their carer role, but there were no differences in reported levels of social support more generally or health and well‐being compared to those caring for a non‐LGBTI person. Overall, results from this study suggest that older lesbian and gay care‐givers may be facing some challenges related to their well‐being and feeling supported, especially if they are caring for another LGBTI person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The needs of older lesbian and gay people regarding access and use of aged‐care services remain underresearched. This paper reports the findings of 33 qualitative interviews with older lesbian women and gay men about their perceptions and experiences of residential aged‐care and home‐based aged‐care services in Australia. The focus of this paper is their preparedness for using aged‐care services. The results highlight that participants had a number of concerns related to accessing residential‐care services in particular, including perceptions of a lack of inclusivity and concerns of potential for discrimination and hostility, loss of access to community and partners, decreased autonomy and concerns relating to quality of care and the potential for elder abuse. Participants noted a number of strategies they employed in avoiding residential‐care services, including the use of home‐care services, renovating the home for increased mobility, moving to locations with greater access to outside home‐care services, a preference for lesbian/gay‐specific housing and residential‐care options if available, and the option of voluntary euthanasia to ensure dignity and autonomy. Participants, on the whole, were hopeful that they would never require the use of residential‐care services, with some believing that having current good health or the support of friends could prevent this from happening. The findings suggest that older lesbian and gay people have a variety of concerns with aged‐care and may need additional support and education to improve their perceptions and experiences of services, whether these are needed presently or in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]