Upside Stories Library

Stay curious

Explore our evidence-based insights on life’s big questions, transitions, and challenges for people approaching midlife and beyond.

Dr Bruce Walmsley Dr Bruce Walmsley

The Loneliness Few People Talk About: Building Belonging in the LGBTQIA+ Community at Midlife and Beyond

Loneliness is significantly more common among LGBTQIA+ individuals in midlife and older age than in the broader population, with rates approximately 30–49% higher than non-LGBTQIA+ peers, driven by the compounding effects of minority stress, historical marginalisation, weaker kinship ties, and exclusion from both queer and mainstream social spaces. Evidence identifies the quality and composition of social connection, particularly within LGBTQIA+-specific communities, as more protective than social quantity alone. Psychological support can also help address the internal barriers that chronic loneliness builds over time.

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Dr Bruce Walmsley Dr Bruce Walmsley

Finding unexpected growth after life changing and traumatic events

Can something good really come from something so hard? The answer, backed by decades of research, is yes — though not in the way people expect. Posttraumatic growth isn't about feeling grateful for what happened. It's about the unexpected strength, meaning, and possibility that can emerge from the struggle. This article explains what the research shows — and what it might mean for you.

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