Beyond Similarities: Cross-Gender and Cross-Orientation Best Friendship in a Sample of Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Young Adults

Abstract

The research investigates differences between heterosexual (n=714) and lesbian and gay men (n=386) young adults regarding best friendship patterns, well-being, and social anxiety. Based on data from a paper-pencil survey of 1,100 Italian young adults aged 18 to 26, this study underlines the importance of the best friend in young adults’ psychological adjustment, highlighting patterns of friendship in heterosexual and lesbian and gay men young adults. Overall, the majority of participants declared that they had best friends; in the total sample, significant differences were found between women and men, and between lesbian/gay men participants and heterosexual young adults. Lesbian and gay men participants reported more cross-gender best friendships than heterosexual participants did, as well as more cross-orientation best friendships. Gender differences were found only with regards to cross-gender friendships: gay men reported more cross-gender friendships than lesbians did, while heterosexual females reported a higher percentage of cross-gender best friendship than heterosexual males did. MANOVA analysis, only in the gay and lesbian sample, showed the effect of gender, cross-gender, and cross-orientation on well-being and social anxiety. For the well-being dimension, gay men participants with female best friends reported higher scores. In terms of social anxiety, lesbian and gay young adults with cross-gender and cross-orientation best friends reported lower levels of social anxiety

Which Gender is More Concerned About Transgender Women in Female Bathrooms?

“…Baiocco et al [3] observed that females were reported to have a higher percentage of cross-gender best friends than males. Davies and Hudson [12] compared attitudes of heterosexual men and women when considering rape of men and transgender people; they found that men blamed the transgender victims more, and considered rape of a transgender person less severe.…”

Outside the LGBTQ “Safety Zone”: Lesbian and Bisexual Women Negotiate Sexual Identity across Multiple Ecological Contexts

“…Cross-orientation friendships, for example, are common and uniquely beneficial to sexual minority women (Baiocco et al, 2014;Galupo, 2009). As Rothblum (2010) noted, there appears to be a "decentering" of lesbianism in contemporary gay communities such that "it does not seem to matter if lesbians and bisexual women are part of groups where sexuality is central versus incidental, as long as the women feel supported" (p. 469).…”

“…Recent research, however, has challenged the relevance and meaning of LGBTQ communities in sectors of the society that are slowly shifting toward a more inclusive view of sexuality (Ghaziani, 2011). Some research, for example, suggests that friends play a particularly important role in the lives of sexual minorities, and that 'cross-orientation' friendships also play a large role in the lives of most lesbian woman (Baiocco et al, 2014;Galupo, 2007). Young people often come out to their friends before family members (Savin-Williams, 1998) and, for many LGBTQ individuals, friends constitute 'families of choice' who provide unique sources of support not offered by traditional family members (Dewaele, Cox, Van den Berghe, & Vincke, 2011).…”

La transition vers la parentalité des familles homoparentales : recherche et implications cliniques

“…Cette différence (réaction positive vis-à-vis des futures mères contre la réaction négative vis-à-vis des futurs pères) confirme les informations provenant de recherches sur les compétences parentales des homosexuels. En particulier, le désir de paternité des gays par rapport au désir de maternité des lesbiennes est plus souvent l'objet d'attitudes négatives, lesquelles se rapportent surtout à une catégorisation de triple minorité, à savoir d'être à la fois un homme, un homosexuel et un père (Baiocco, Nardelli, Pezzuti & Lingiardi, 2013). Le fait d'être mère est par contre continuellement perçu de façon plus positive que celui d'être père (Baiocco & Laghi, 2013).…”

“…Différentes études montrent que les gays comme les lesbiennes ont tendance à considérer leurs amis comme des "familles de choix" (Weston, 1991), l'amitié étant la principale source de soutien affectif, fondamental pour la construction de sa propre identité (Baiocco et al, 2014). Quant à leurs amis, leur réaction positive semble confirmer ce que la littérature spécialisée disait déjà, en soulignant les aspects de proximité et de soutien (Baiocco, Laghi, Di Pomponio & Nigito, 2012).…”