How does stigma spoil relationships? Evidence that perceived discrimination harms romantic relationship quality through impaired self‐image

Doyle, David Matthew; Molix, Lisa

doi:10.1111/jasp.12252

Cited by 63 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 62 publications

(88 reference statements)

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“…In line with past research (e.g., Doyle & Molix, 2013;Murry et al, 2001;Trail et al, 2012), we found that social stigma salience consistently evidenced a negative effect on self-reported romantic relationship quality for individuals involved in shorter relationships. In other words, experiences with prejudice and discrimination, including acute experiences, can harm the romantic relationships of members of devalued groups.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Love on the Margins

Doyle

Molix

2013

Social Psychological and Personality Science

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National data on romantic relationships reveal a prominent gap between members of devalued and dominant groups in the United States, with devalued group members experiencing less positive relationship outcomes. However, little research examines how social stigma affects relationship quality for members of devalued groups and moderating factors have generally not been explored in the literature. In the current studies, we experimentally examined the effects of social stigma on relationship quality among women (Study 1) and African Americans (Study 2) as well as whether these effects differed based upon relationship length (Studies 1 and 2). Results showed that individuals involved in shorter relationships reported lesser relationship quality after social stigma was made salient, while those involved in longer relationships reported somewhat greater relationship quality after social stigma was made salient. Implications for future research on social stigma and relationship quality as well as moderating factors are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Love on the Margins

Doyle

Molix

2013

Social Psychological and Personality Science

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“…In a study using a community sample of LGB individuals, Frost and Meyer (2009) reported that depressive symptoms-hypothesized to result from internalized homonegativity-seem to be the mechanism behind their participants' relationship problems. Szymanski and Hilton (2013) suggested that internalized homonegativity might generate fear of intimacy and thus negatively affect relationship quality in male same-sex couples, while Doyle and Molix (2014a) showed that a negative association between perceived discrimination and same-sex relationship quality is partially mediated by impaired self-image. Finally, in a study of coupled gay men, Kamen et al (2011) found the associations between minority stressors and relationship satisfaction moderated by specific relationship characteristics.…”

Section: Intimacy Romantic Relationships and Minority Stressmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Considering the volume of studies discussing the role of discrimination and stigma in LGB persons' lives on the individual level, including the confirmed mental health disparities between LGBs and heterosexuals (Fergusson, Horwood, Ridder, & Beautrais, 2005;Lewis, 2009;Logie, 2012;Sandfort, de Graaf, Bijl, & Schnabel, 2001), it is surprising that only a few studies so far have investigated the role of minority stressors in same-sex couple functioning (see Doyle & Molix, 2014a;Frost, 2011;Frost & Meyer, 2009;Kamen, Burns, & Beach, 2011;Mohr & Daly, 2008;Otis, Rostosky, Riggle, & Hamrin, 2006;Szymanski & Hilton, 2013). Using the personal projects analysis method, Frost (2011) found that LGB participants reported significantly more devaluation and barriers (via prejudice, discrimination, and stigmatization) to the development of intimacy in their relationships than did heterosexual individuals.…”

Section: Intimacy Romantic Relationships and Minority Stressmentioning

confidence: 97%

Emotional Intimacy Among Coupled Heterosexual and Gay/Bisexual Croatian Men: Assessing the Role of Minority Stress

2015

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Emotional intimacy cuts across contexts as diverse as sexual motivation and satisfaction, psychological and physical health, and relational well-being. Although the experience of intimacy and its effects on sex life may be gender and sexual orientation-specific, the role of intimacy in personal and sexual relationships has been studied mostly among heterosexual individuals and couples. Using the minority stress framework (Meyer, 2003) to address this gap in knowledge, the present study comparatively explored levels and predictors/correlates of emotional intimacy, and its association with sexual satisfaction among coupled heterosexual and gay/bisexual men sampled online in a predominantly homonegative country (Croatia). Heterosexual participants (n = 860; M age = 36.4, SD = 9.09) were recruited in 2011 and gay/bisexual participants (n = 250; M age = 29.4, SD = 7.13) in 2013. Controlling for age and relationship duration, gay/bisexual men reported higher levels of emotional intimacy than heterosexual men. Suggesting that the role of emotional intimacy in sexual satisfaction is not sexual orientation-specific, the strength of the association between these two constructs was similar in both samples. However, internalized homonegativity, which was negatively associated with emotional intimacy in this study, remains a challenge to creating and maintaining intimacy in male same-sex relationships.

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“…Couples who do not have social support are at risk for lowered individual self-esteem and relationship satisfaction (Doyle & Molix, 2014), and heightened domestic violence (Balsam & Szymanski, 2005). While some couples attempt to deter these negative outcomes by concealing their relationship, concealment exasperates negative consequences, and leads to reduced commitment, increased substance use, risk taking behaviors, and negative somatic symptoms relating to stress (Lehmiller, 2009(Lehmiller, , 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Doyle and Molix (2014) showed that individuals in stigmatized relationships reported an impaired self-image, which perpetuated the relational strain with significant or intimate others. Balsam and Szymanski (2005) found that minority stress and lack of social support in lesbian relationships led to lower relationship quality and an increase in domestic violence between the partners.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Romeo and Juliet: Perceptions of love of stigmatized relationships

2018

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We examined the connection between the perception of love and stigma in relationships and how much stigma needs to be present to elicit a heightened perception of love. Participants in the first study rated several relationships on the degree of stigma each one of them faced, and how much the individuals in each relationship loved each other-the perception of the Romeo and Juliet effect. In the second study, participants read a scenario of a male, gay relationship with various degree of stigma (none, one, two, or three sources), and rated how much the couple loved each other. The results suggest that there is a perception that the Romeo and Juliet effect exists, despite evidence that does not (Sinclair, Hood, & Wright, 2014). Individuals in relationships, which face stigma from multiple sources, are believed to love each other more than those with no stigma. Together, the results suggest that perceived stigma and love in a relationship are positively associated, which runs counter to better supported models of relationship satisfaction (Parks, Stan, & Eggert, 1983).

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How does stigma spoil relationships? Evidence that perceived discrimination harms romantic relationship quality through impaired self‐image

Cited by 63 publications

References 62 publications

Love on the Margins

Love on the Margins

Emotional Intimacy Among Coupled Heterosexual and Gay/Bisexual Croatian Men: Assessing the Role of Minority Stress

Romeo and Juliet: Perceptions of love of stigmatized relationships

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