Michael T. Vale- Doctor of Philosophy
- Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University
Michael T. Vale
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University
Michael is an Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. His research focuses on lifespan experiences of stigma.
About
23
Publications
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Introduction
My research focuses on understanding stigma in a lifespan context. I lead the Sexuality, Minoritized Identities, and Lifespan Experiences (SMILEs) Lab, where I work with undergraduate students on my research. We focus on two main areas: understanding the risks and resilience and of older sexual minorities (e.g., LGB people) and more broadly experiences of benevolent ageism.
Current institution
Publications
Publications (23)
Stereotypes of older adults fit a paternalistic pattern, including elevated warmth and lowered competence, yet little effort has been made to elucidate this in an everyday context. This phenomenon was examined with an experimental vignette, in which a woman was offered unnecessary help; specifically, the age (young vs. old) and the independence (ac...
Objectives: This study examined whether younger and middle-aged and older sexual minorities (YSM, MAOSM) experience minority stress differently in relation to social support and depressive
symptomatology.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from 238 sexual minorities (18–80; M = 40.93) comprised the sample, who were strategically separated into cohorts....
Objectives: Empirical inquiry has targeted how same-sex couples grapple with unique stressors in their romantic relationships. Meta-analyses demonstrate that the adverse link between minority stress and sexual and relationship well-being is contingent on the type of stressor and relationship component. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study...
Background:
Older adults are stereotyped in a paternalistic manner (warm, but incompetent), deserving of assistance regardless of their need; however, little is known about how gender contextualizes these attitudes. The purpose of this study was to extend previous work that examined the malleability of the paternalistic older adult stereotype usin...
Efforts to combat ageism advocate for avoiding labels, such as “old”, “elderly”, and “senior citizen”; however, these labels persist in everyday speech, and new terms like “Ok Boomer” have recently gained popularity. To examine the perception and impact of such labels on older adults, we had young, middle-aged, and older participants complete an on...
High sexual quality and activity predict psychological well-being in heterosexual middle-aged and older adults; however, these associations have not been documented in sexual minorities, who have faced lifelong stigma concerning their sexuality. This paper presents data from two secondary studies that explored the benefits of being sexually active...
Marginalized individuals often experience social isolation (i.e., loneliness), which is a risk factor for diminished health, especially for older sexual minorities (i.e., LGB+) who were socialized in a period with less social recognition and overt stigmatization (i.e., minority stress). Although it is known that minority stressors contribute to lon...
Using humor can be beneficial for coping with stress. Humor can elicit positive emotions, which can bolster cognitive, social, and physical resources. Individuals who use humor to cope with negative affect report more positive well-being. However, it is less clear whether there are age differences in using humor to cope with an acute stressful even...
Older sexual minorities (OSM), or those older adults sexually attracted to the same sex, are at risk for poorer well-being, which is rooted in the stresses of being marginalized. There is limited knowledge on how older age contextualizes the minority stress process. OSM have witnessed more stigmatized sociopolitical climates, yet report less minori...
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented context for older adults where they may feel patronized, isolated, and fearful because of their greater risk of getting COVID-19 and being targets of ageism. Previous researchers have linked ageism negatively with health and well-being; although, the majority of this research has highlighted the...
Younger adults have coined the popular retort “OK Boomer,” referring to the 76 million Baby Boomers born between 1946-1964. The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) is a framework used to assess stereotypical perceptions of various groups, and older adults generally fall in the paternalistic “high warmth/low competence” quadrant. The stereotypes behind “...
Gerontologists have warned of rising ageism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults have been portrayed as a homogenous group given their health vulnerabilities and have been viewed with mixed perceptions. For instance, the pandemic has been viewed as an “old person’s” disease and older adults have been inherently linked to imposing health and s...
Gerontologists have warned of rising ageism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults have been portrayed as a homogenous group given their health vulnerabilities and have been viewed with mixed perceptions. For instance, the pandemic has been viewed as an “old person’s” disease and older adults have been inherently linked to imposing health and s...
Younger adults have coined the popular retort “OK Boomer,” referring to the 76 million Baby Boomers born between 1946-1964. The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) is a framework used to assess stereotypical perceptions of various groups, and older adults generally fall in the paternalistic “high warmth/low competence” quadrant. The stereotypes behind “...
Older adults (OA) prefer positive over negative information in a lab setting, compared to young adults (YA; i.e., positivity effects). The extent to which OA avoid negative events or information relevant for their health and safety is not clear. We first investigated age differences in preferences for fear-enhancing vs. fear-reducing news articles...
Older adults (OA) prefer positive over negative information in a lab setting, compared to young adults (i.e., positivity effects; YA). The extent to which OA avoid negative events or information relevant for their health and safety is not clear. We first investigated age differences in preferences for fear-enhancing versus fear-reducing news articl...
Currently, there is support that links experiences of stigma/discrimination, known as minority stress, with depressive symptomatology in older sexual minorities (OSM). Yet, the context of cohort is ignored, despite OSM having been exposed to greater stigma across their lifetime. The current project explores how cohort informs the minority stress pr...
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a suspected surge of ageism in America and has imposed critical health and safety behavior modifications for people of all ages (Ayalon et al., 2020; Lichtenstein, 2020). Given that older adults are a high-risk group, maintaining their safety has been paramount in implementing preventive measures (i.e., more handwas...
Objectives:
This study examined whether younger and middle-aged and older sexual minorities (YSM, MAOSM) experience minority stress differently in relation to social support and depressive symptomatology.
Methods:
Cross-sectional data from 238 sexual minorities (18-80; M = 40.93) comprised the sample, who were strategically separated into cohort...
Minority Stress Theory posits that specific minority stressors, such as internalized homophobia and outness, predict negative health outcomes in sexual minorities. There has been substantial work in addressing these stressors in young adult samples; however, less in known about older adults. Older sexual minorities were socialized in a time in whic...
