Hidden grief is complicated: identity concealment as a minority stressor and relational-cultural barrier among bereaved sexual and gender minoritized elders

ABSTRACT

Sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) elders who have lost or expect to lose a partner or loved one are at elevated risk for experiencing hidden or disenfranchised grief due to historical and current stigmatising social structures that lead to identity concealment. Identity concealment is associated with a range of negative health (e.g. depression, anxiety) and psychosocial (e.g. social isolation, lower sense of belonging) outcomes that may adversely affect one’s ability to cope with and recover from loss, yet little is known about the association between identity concealment and complicated grief. Guided by two empirically supported, complementary frameworks (i.e. minority stress theory and relational-cultural theory), this theoretical review increases understanding and awareness of identity concealment as a risk factor for complicated grief and other poor bereavement outcomes among SGM elders, with special consideration for intersections of gerodiversity. Such knowledge can help health professionals, policymakers, and other agents of change develop culturally responsive interventions that foster social, psychological, and physical well-being among bereaved SGM elders.

KEYWORDS:

• Identity concealment
• minority stress theory
• relational-cultural theory
• bereavement
• complicated grief
• sexual and gender minoritized elders

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The terms older adults and elders are widely used and accepted terms to describe individuals over the age of 65. Since labels used to describe stigmatised groups elicit stereotypes over time, the authors are intentionally using elder(s) throughout the paper in order to invoke positive association of later life (i.e. wisdom, resiliency, wealth of lived experiences; Gendron et al., 2016; Lundebjerg et al., 2017).

2. The term minoritized is used in lieu of minority to describe groups or identities that are ‘othered’ via social oppression, regardless of population size. Despite its wide and accepted use, the term minority can further ‘other’ or minoritize individuals by failing to emphasise the modifiable sociocultural hierarchies and policies that actively push individuals to the margins and disenfranchise their experiences (Selvarajah et al., 2020; Sotto-Santiago, 2019).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Benjamin F. Shepherd

Benjamin F. Shepherd M.Ed., is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Working alongside his mentor Dr. Paula Brochu, he aims to increase awareness and understanding of the association between stigma, resilience, and intersectionality through research and advocacy. In particular, he is interested in examining the experiences, coping strategies, and health of individuals possessing concealable stigmatised identities, with a focus on sexual and gender minoritized populations.

Paula M. Brochu

Paula M. Brochu Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical and School Psychology at NSU’s College of Psychology. She is a social psychologist with interests in prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, and stigma. Much of her research focuses on weight bias, or negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours directed towards fat people or those who live in larger bodies. Specifically, she examines the processes underlying the expression of anti-fat bias, the consequences of weight stigma on health and well-being, and the efficacy of interventions to reduce weight bias.

Ashley M. Stripling

Ashley M. Stripling Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical and School Psychology at NSU’s College of Psychology. She is also the director of NSU’s Counseling Center for Older Adults (NCCOA). Her research interests include geropsychology, clinical training, research and advocacy, promotion of successful, healthy ageing through advocacy and clinical interventions; understanding ageism, subjective ageing, and the intersection of ageing language and perceptions; combating ageist stereotypes.