Reducing loneliness and enhancing well-being among gender and sexually diverse late middle-aged and older adults: An evidence-informed group intervention
Titikarn Assatarakul, Akara Metasuk, Yada AtananAbstract
Objectives
This study aimed to design and conduct an exploratory evaluation of an evidence-informed workshop series to promote the holistic well-being of late middle-aged and older adults with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) in Thailand.
Methods
The intervention, informed by the Minority Stress Model, the Transformative Learning Group Facilitation Model, and Experiential Learning Theory, focused on reducing loneliness and enhancing psychological, physical, social, and spiritual well-being by creating affirming, psychologically safe spaces. A non-randomized, single-group pre–post mixed-methods design was employed with 28 diverse SOGIESC participants aged 51–74. Quantitative data were collected using validated loneliness and well-being measures, while qualitative data from in-depth interviews were analyzed thematically.
Results
Participants showed significant within-group reductions in emotional and social loneliness, with median scores decreasing by 1.0 point on a 3-point scale and large effect sizes (rrb = −.684 and −.725, respectively). Significant improvements were also observed in psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being, with moderate-to-large effect sizes (rrb = .460, .673, and .406, respectively). Qualitative findings highlighted the transformative role of social support, belonging, and affirmative community spaces in fostering self-acceptance and collective empowerment.
Discussion
These exploratory findings suggest that friendly space workshop interventions show promise in addressing loneliness and enhancing multiple dimensions of well-being among older adults with diverse SOGIESC. The findings also highlight the need for ageing and social policies that move beyond individual self-care toward relational, community-based, and structurally supportive models of well-being and inclusion.