Are Gay and Lesbian cohabiting couples really different from heterosexual married couples?

Abstract

Both partners from gay and lesbian cohabiting couples without children were compared longitudinally with both partners from heterosexual married couples with children (N at first assessment = 80, 53, and 80 couples, respectively) on variables from 5 domains indicative of relationship health. For 50% of the comparisons, gay and lesbian partners did not differ from heterosexual partners. Seventy‐eight percent of the comparisons on which differences were found indicated that gay or lesbian partners functioned better than heterosexual partners did. Because the variables that predicted concurrent relationship quality and relationship stability for heterosexual parents also did so for gay and lesbian partners, I conclude that the processes that regulate relationship functioning generalize across gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples.

Unwanted Pursuit Behavior After Breakup: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Gender Differences

“…Based on the same-gender stalking studies by Pathé et al (2000) and Strand and McEwan (2011), it might be assumed that same-gender pursuers are more motivated by a resentful than by a rejected or affectionate type of motivation. A more dyadic explanation might also be plausible: It is known that same-gender couples have higher levels of equality in their relationships than opposite-gender couples (e.g., Kurdek, 2004) and that the perpetration of UPBs by more anxiously attached persons is lower when separating from a similar more anxiously attached partner than when separating from a dissimilar less anxiously attached partner (De Smet, Loeys, & Buysse, 2013). Although we did not assess both dyad members' attachment styles, it is possible that more equal attachment characteristics in samegender ex-couples buffered the perpetration of UPBs by more anxiously attached persons.…”

Perspectives on contemporary lesbian relationships

“…And indeed, contrary to many stereotypical notions about how different (or dysfunctional) same-sex relationships would be, research generally indicated that they appear to operate in largely the same manner as their heterosexual counterparts, with the same types of factors generally associated with relationship satisfaction (e.g., Kurdek, 2004; see review in Peplau & Fingerhut, 2007). Moreover, where differences have been found to exist, they may be in a positive direction, such as a greater emphasis on equality within same-sex relationships and more effective conflict resolution behaviors (e.g., Gottman et al, 2003;Kurdek, 2005).…”

“…This was particularly relevant to the aforementioned debate around same-sex marriage rights. As Kurdek (2004) noted, "If marriage is to be reserved for only unions of a man and a woman, it seems reasonable to assume that opposite-sex relationships work in ways that are radically different from the way that same-sex relationships work. Comparing partners from gay and lesbian couples to spouses from heterosexual couples on variables already known to be relevant for relationship health affords one way of testing this assumption" (p. 881).…”

Relationship of Love Styles and Romantic Attachment Styles in Gay Men

“…Furthermore, gay, lesbian, and heterosexual individuals identified different sources of social support outside of the partnered/marital relationship; gay and lesbian couples are more likely to identify their friends as their primary source of support in general whereas heterosexual couples were more likely to identify their family members as their primary source of support (Kurdek, 2004).…”