# Sampling Strategies and Measure Development for the LGBT Aging Project (SAMLAP)

> **NIH NIH R01** · NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER · 2021 · $1,537,010

## Abstract

Project Abstract
The size of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population is estimated to be between 9 and 11
million (3.5–4.5%). The LGBT population has been identified as having poorer health than their non-LGBT
peers on many dimensions. Although we know less about older LGBT adults, they are of special interest since
chronic disease and disabilities increase with age and disparities often emerge or widen, making older LGBT
adults an at-risk population. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has issued two reports on the state of
LGBT health, both of which call for more targeted research aimed at understanding the sources and
consequences of these health disparities, particularly among older LGBT adults. A representative national
study of older LGBT adults would permit the type of work recommended by the NAM committee. The purpose
of the current Sampling Strategies and Measure Development for the LGBT Aging Project (SAMLAP) is
to develop and evaluate a platform and a process that will permit the execution of a future, separately-funded
national probability-based longitudinal study of aging in the older LGBT population (the National LGBT Aging
Project (NLAP)). Our specific aims are: (1) to develop and implement a strategy to identify and recruit a
probability sample of LGBT older adults; (2) to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of the screening
strategy and the quality of the resulting sample, using the results of the randomized experiments as
appropriate; (3) to identify and develop survey measures of social relationships and experiences appropriate
for use in the future National LGBT Aging Project (NLAP) and administer these via 300 follow-up interviews in
households identified as containing at least one LGBT older adult; and, (4) conduct a controlled randomized
field test of in-home versus remote interviewing for the follow-up interviews, using a sequential adaptive design
that will permit a robust comparison of response rates, differential nonresponse bias, and costs. The product of
this work will be a sampling methodology, screening process, set of measures, and field approach—optimized
where appropriate through randomized experiments—tailored to conduct the first ever U.S. national study of
LGBT older adults using an address-based probability sample with a high response rate (NLAP), to be
submitted separately based on the results of this application. NLAP will permit inference to the population of
LGBT individuals as well as the population of partnerships involving at least one LGBT individual; it will answer
critical health and policy questions concerning LGBT individuals, as well as enhance our methods for studying
and understanding issues involving the health and aging of all Americans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10298633
- **Project number:** 1R01AG070059-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Colm Aongus O'Muircheartaigh
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,537,010
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10298633

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10298633, Sampling Strategies and Measure Development for the LGBT Aging Project (SAMLAP) (1R01AG070059-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10298633. Licensed CC0.

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