Relationship Satisfaction, Affectivity, and Gay-Specific Stressors in Same-Sex Couples Joined in Civil Unions

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelica Todosijevic ◽  
Esther D. Rothblum ◽  
Sondra E. Solomon

Relationship satisfaction, affect, and stress were examined in 313 same-sex couples who had had civil unions in Vermont during the first year of this legislation. Similarity between partners on age and on positive/negative affectivity was related to relationship satisfaction whereas there was no association with similarity in income, education, and outness. Lesbian couples ( n = 199), compared to gay male couples, reported experiencing more stress related to family reaction to their sexuality, whereas gay male couples ( n = 114) reported more stress surrounding the issues of HIV/AIDS and violence/harassment than did lesbian couples. This study is the first to examine within-couple factors among same-sex couples with legalized relationships.

2020 ◽  
pp. 78-96
Author(s):  
David Eichert

This chapter discusses ways in which LAT functions differently among same-sex couples, based on interviews with gay couples in New York City. Gay couples, for example, are rarely monogamous. Yet many of the gay LATs are in fact legally married, though continuing to live apart in the same city.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2199969
Author(s):  
Alessandra Santona ◽  
Arianna Vecchi ◽  
Laura Gorla ◽  
Giacomo Tognasso

Many Italian gay and lesbian individuals have the desire to become parents, despite the fact that they still face barriers due to the low acceptance of same-sex parenthood. This study investigates the desire and motivation of same-sex couples to have children. The sample consists of 31 same-sex couples (17 lesbian couples and 14 gay male couples) and 31 heterosexual couples. All the participants were childless at the time of the study and had been involved in their current relationship for at least two years. We used the Parenthood Motivation List (PML) to assess motivations underlying the desire to have children. The results showed that both groups wanted to have children and considered the same motivations to be important for parenthood. We discovered that happiness, well-being, and parenthood were important for same-sex parenthood, while social control was considered less important. In addition, gay men and lesbians had lower scores for well-being and identity.


Author(s):  
Mary Minten ◽  
Cass Dykeman

Relationship health impacts many other health outcomes, including physical and mental wellbeing and the health of children in the family system (Goeke-Morey, Cummings, & Papp, 2007; Jaremka, Glaser, Malarkey, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2013; Jaremka, Lindgren, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2013; Pihet, Bodenmann, Cina, Widmer, & Shantinath, 2007; Rappaport, 2013; Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014). Despite the importance of relationship health, couples do not regularly seek support for maintaining their connection (Eubanks-Fleming & Cordova, 2012). Early intervention programs that provide support are a growing public health initiative (Cowan & Cowan, 2014). One brief early intervention program, the Marriage Checkup (MC), positively impacts relationship satisfaction, prevents decline, and improves health on other relationship variables such as intimacy (Cordova, 2014). To date, the MC research has included only heterosexual couples. This study explored the question, “What is the impact of a relationship wellness checkup on gay male couples’ relationship satisfaction?” Using single-subject multiple-baseline, multiple-probe design, this study extends MC research to include gay may couples. Findings showed that the MC positively influenced satisfaction (NAP .73) for the group overall. In an analysis of each couple, two of the three couples improved and one couple showed a slight decline in satisfaction. The likely confounding event for this third couple was their marriage and honeymoon during the baseline phase. In light of research with newlywed and engaged couples from other studies, overall the results tentatively suggest the MC may increase satisfaction for gay male couples with additional research needed for newlywed couples.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyrel J. Starks ◽  
Kendell M. Doyle ◽  
Brett M. Millar ◽  
Jeffrey T. Parsons

1981 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 488-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Cardell ◽  
Stephen Finn ◽  
Jeanne Marecek

Partners in 10 heterosexual, 10 lesbian, and 5 gay male couples completed the BSRI and a questionnaire about their demographic backgrounds, sex-role differentiation in their relationships, and satisfaction with the relationship. Members of heterosexual couples were more sex-typed on the BSRI and more sex-role differentiated in their behavior than members of lesbian couples. Members of gay male couples appeared the most sex-typed in their identities, but the least sex-typed in their behavior. BSRI scores predicted sex-role differentiation in heterosexual couples, but not in lesbian couples. Satisfaction was related to the amount and type of sex-role behavior, but unrelated to gender, background characteristics, BSRI score, or couple type.


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