Table 4. Resources: Comparisons by Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Background Characteristics Social Support M (SD)
No one %
Partner or spouse %
Close friend %
Family %
Social support network Faith Neighbor community % %
Paid caregiver %
Social services %
Therapist %
Religious activities %
Total 3.68 (.96) 8.60 35.87 71.57 17.02 22.15 12.40 3.64 12.40 23.31 30.83 Sexual orientation Lesbians 3.83 (.72) ‡ 3.76*‡ 48.87*‡ 80.45* 25.56*‡ 30.08*‡ 15.79 0.75 8.27 26.32 33.33 Gay Men 3.65 (1.01) 9.88 33.41 69.65 15.53 18.82 10.59 4.47 12.00 20.24 28.57 Bisexualsa 3.64 (.91) 16.00 16.00* 72.00 12.00 32.00 20.00 4.00 32.00* 40.00* 36.00 Gender identity Transgender 3.52 (1.08) 8.00 24.00 60.00 4.00 28.00 28.00*‡ 4.00 28.00* 48.00* 58.33* Non-transgender 3.69 (.96) 8.35 36.70 72.17 17.74 21.91 11.65 3.65 11.65 22.26 29.34 Gender Female 3.79 (.79) 4.61* 43.42* 78.29* 23.03* 29.61* 17.11* 1.32 9.87 27.63 33.33 Male 3.65 (1.01) 9.93 33.41 69.30 15.35 18.96 10.38 4.29 12.87 21.22 29.23 Age 60-69 3.62 (.96) 8.84 36.28 71.16 16.28 21.16 13.26 3.49 13.49 25.35* 33.09 70-79 3.80 (.94) 8.51 36.88 70.92 19.86 24.11 11.35 2.84 9.22 21.99 27.54 80 and older 3.88 (1.04) 5.88 26.47 79.41 14.71 26.47 5.88 8.82 11.76 2.94 15.63 Race and Ethnicity White 3.72 (.93) 8.86 39.03* 73.00 17.51 23.63 10.76 3.59 10.55 21.31 28.10* Hispanic 3.55 (1.15) 11.36 18.18 68.18 15.91 13.64 11.36 2.27 20.45 27.27 32.56 African American 3.57 (1.04) 6.67 26.67 56.67 6.67 6.67 20.00 6.67 20.00 20.00 34.48 Asian American 3.39 (1.16) 4.35 34.78 69.57 13.04 13.04 26.09 8.70 8.70 34.78 60.87 Below 200% Poverty Level Yes 3.48 (1.05)* 11.11 17.54* 64.33* 12.28* 23.39 14.62 3.51 24.56* 28.07 33.93 No 3.77 (.89) 7.46 44.03 75.87 19.40 22.14 11.19 3.23 7.46 21.39 29.59 Education Some college or less 3.50 (1.14)* 13.89* 26.67* 61.11* 5.00* 18.33 10.56 2.78 19.44* 17.78* 27.33 4 years of college or more 3.75 (.87) 6.40 39.57 76.30 22.27 23.93 13.27 4.03 9.48 25.83 32.28 Relationship status Partnered, legally recognized 4.05 (.88)* 1.92* 95.19* 72.12 21.15 23.08 7.69 0.96 2.88* 19.23 23.76 Partnered, not legally recognized 4.01 (.76) 2.40 88.80 65.60 20.80 24.00 16.80 1.60 12.00 23.20 38.02 Not married or partnered 3.47 (.98) 12.53 1.09 74.11 14.71 21.25 11.72 4.90 14.99 24.52 30.34 Living arrangement Living alone 3.48 (1.00)* 12.43* 10.12* 73.70 12.72* 21.97 12.72 4.62 15.90* 23.70 30.18 Living with others 3.95 (.83) 3.52 71.09 68.75 22.66 22.27 11.33 2.34 7.03 22.66 31.30 HIV/AIDS (men) Yes 3.60 (1.00) 10.42 27.78 65.28 15.97 19.44 9.72 0.69* 19.44* 29.86* 32.62 No 3.70 (.95) 9.73 36.24 71.14 14.77 18.46 10.74 6.04 9.73 16.78 27.34 Note. Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s χ2 tests or Fisher’s exact tests were applied; * indicates statistically significant relationship between variables at p < .05. a Due to small sample size, we were unable to distinguish between bisexual women and men in comparisons with lesbians and gay men. ‡ Indicates that a p value remains <.05 in adjusted logistic regressions after controlling for age, income, and education; adjusted tests were applied to comparisons of sexual orientation and gender identity; adjusted analyses were not applied to “paid caregiver” due to small sample size.