Predictors of relationship dissolution in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual adoptive parents.

Abstract

Little work has examined relationship dissolution or divorce in adoptive parents or same-sex parent couples. The current study examined predictors of relationship dissolution across the first 5 years of parenthood among a sample of heterosexual, lesbian, and gay male adoptive couples. Of the 190 couples in the study, 15 (7.9%) dissolved their relationships during the first 5 years of adoptive parenthood. Specifically, 7 of 57 lesbian couples (12.3%), 1 of 49 gay male couples (2.0%), and 7 of 84 heterosexual couples (8.3%) dissolved their unions. Results of our logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of relationship dissolution were significantly higher for (a) couples who adopted a non-infant (i.e., older) child); (b) participants who reported feeling less prepared for the adoption, three months post-adoptive placement; and (c) couples in which both partners reported very low, or very high, pre-adoption levels of relationship maintenance behaviors. Findings have implications for adoption professionals seeking to support same-sex and heterosexual prospective adopters, as well as societal debates and policy regarding same-sex relationships and parenting.

Transitions of Adoptive Parents: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Analysis

“…Goldberg and Garcia (2015) found no difference in the odds of relationship dissolution between heterosexual and homosexual couples. Predictive factors for relationship dissolution in this study included interpersonal processes such as relationship maintenance activities, adoption related processes, such as adoption preparedness, and child factors, such as child age (older child age increased risk of dissolution) (Goldberg & Garcia, 2015). In another study, Goldberg and colleagues (2010) found similar rates of relationship decline between homosexual and heterosexual couples, with relationship maintenance again being an important factor in relationship quality.…”

“…Relationship quality and risk for dissolution has been studied in both heterosexual and homosexual couples (Goldberg & Garcia, 2015; Goldberg, Smith, & Kashy, 2010; Hock & Mooradian, 2012). Goldberg and Garcia (2015) found no difference in the odds of relationship dissolution between heterosexual and homosexual couples.…”

“…Relationship quality and risk for dissolution has been studied in both heterosexual and homosexual couples (Goldberg & Garcia, 2015; Goldberg, Smith, & Kashy, 2010; Hock & Mooradian, 2012). Goldberg and Garcia (2015) found no difference in the odds of relationship dissolution between heterosexual and homosexual couples. Predictive factors for relationship dissolution in this study included interpersonal processes such as relationship maintenance activities, adoption related processes, such as adoption preparedness, and child factors, such as child age (older child age increased risk of dissolution) (Goldberg & Garcia, 2015).…”

The dyadic construction of romantic conflict recovery sabotage

“…To test our prediction that conflict resolution would predict one-year stability better than recovery sabotage (Hypothesis 10), we computed a binary logistic regression using the procedure recommended for predicting dyad-level outcomes (e.g., stability) from individual-level predictors (e.g., each partner’s recovery sabotage score) in indistinguishable dyads (see Goldberg & Garcia, 2015). Using stepwise logistic regression (Table 7), one-year relationship stability (dissolution = 0; stability = 1) was regressed on dyadic conflict resolution (step 1) and the sum of partners’ recovery sabotage scores (step 2).…”

Coming Out and Getting Back In: Relationship Cycling and Distress in Same‐ and Different‐Sex Relationships

“…When assessing differences in more nuanced ways, Lau () found that male same‐sex couples had slightly higher rates of dissolution than female same‐sex couples did. Other researchers, however, found that lesbian couples were slightly more likely to break up (see Moore & Stambolis‐Ruhstorfer, ) or that there were no differences in rates of breakup for lesbian, gay male, and heterosexual couples (e.g., Goldberg & Garcia, ), with similar frequency of separation for gay and lesbian couples (Kurdek, ). Nevertheless, these studies assessed dissolution, not dissolution and reconciliation; therefore, the rates of permanent dissolution versus cycling may differ from previous studies of stability.…”