Recent research suggests that female same-gender couples have higher dissolution rates compared to male same-gender and mixed-gender couples. Despite these disparate relationship outcomes, scarce research has identified reasons for relationship dissolution in this population. The present study presents quantitative and qualitative findings from 65 individuals who were previously in female same-gender relationships that ended in breakup or divorce. The most commonly endorsed retrospective reasons for breakup included too much arguing and conflict, mental health problems, infidelity, and lack of sex or sexual satisfaction. Approximately two thirds of the sample also endorsed a "final straw" that ultimately led to the end of their relationship, with infidelity, too much arguing, substance abuse, and mental health problems being endorsed most frequently. Other themes such as growing apart, incompatibility, challenges navigating consensual nonmonogamy agreements, and lying and betrayal were also identified from participants' written descriptions of their breakup stories. Results have important implications for future research and relationship intervention development for female same-gender and queer couples.
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