Provision, Expectation, and Obligation: The Significance of Gender Identity on Informal Caregiving by LGBTQ Adults Aged 45+

Abstract

The significance of gender identity on informal caregiving for adults ages 18+ by LGBTQ older adults needs increased attention due to the potential for negative outcomes associated with this unpaid labor. Utilizing the 2022 AARP Dignity Survey data, we examine the significance of gender identity, age, and other sociodemographics on caregiving among LGBTQ respondents ages 45+ in the United States. Findings indicate that among LGBTQ older adults, those who identify as a cisgender woman are more likely to have provided care and to expect to do so in the future. Conversely, gender identity does not significantly predict feeling obligated to provide care. Also, a gender diverse identity significantly predicts feeling obligated to care for someone who is unaccepting of that identity, suggesting that gender diverse caregivers face an increased risk for mistreatment. This study thus helps clarify how gender identity affects informal caregiving within the population of LGBTQ older adults.