Relationship Factors and Quality Among Mixed-Orientation Couples

Abstract

Mixed-orientation couples are defined as a heterosexual couple in which 1 partner experiences same-sex attraction and the other does not. Despite the fact that there is a sizable number of mixed-orientation couples in the U.S. adult population, few researchers have studied this population, and thus, there is limited understanding of these relationships. The authors examined the degree to which relationship commitment, partner-focused forgivingness, and marital values were associated with relationship quality, and how these variables predicted relationship quality. The total sample (N = 265) consisted of 2 independent samples-105 sexual minorities (i.e., the spouse who experiences same-sex attraction) and 160 heterosexual spouses. The data were not dyadic. Together, commitment, partner-focused forgivingness, and marital values accounted for roughly 43% of the variance in relationship quality. Relationship commitment was found to be the largest single predictor of relationship quality, followed by partner-focused forgivingness. Research and clinical implications are discussed. This study significantly adds to the current research base by quantitatively measuring various variables in these relationships, as well as expanding our understanding of relationship quality in mixed-orientation couples and factors that may play a role.

Celibate Gay Christians: Sexual Identity and Religious Beliefs and Practices

“…For example, celibate gay Christians may reconcile a gay identity and a conservative Christian sexual ethic and faith identity but refrain from engaging in same-sex relationships (Creek, 2013;Pappas, 2013;Urquhart, 2014). Some commit themselves to celibacy, while others enter into mixed orientation marriages (Kays, Yarhouse, & Ripley, 2014), which is a marriage in which one spouse is heterosexual and the other is gay (Buxton, 2001(Buxton, , 2006Kays & Yarhouse, 2010;Kays et al, 2014). It is unclear how many gay people will pursue a mixed orientation marriage following the US Supreme Court ruling in 2015 providing for marriage equality nationwide.…”

Romantic and Sexual Relationships with Adult Partners Among Pedohebephilic Men

“…When disclosure occurs, how disclosure occurs, and what partners' reactions are, likely influences the outcomes of the disclosure and relatedly, internalized stigma among pedohebephilic men. Kays et al (2014) found that 43% of the variation in mix-orientation couples' relationship quality was predicted by commitment, partner-focused forgivingness, and marital values. Relationship commitment was the single largest predictor of relationship quality, highlighting the importance of connection versus simply attraction.…”

دور التفهم الوجداني والمعرفي في التنبؤ بالتسامح الزواجي لدى عينة من الأزواج وزوجاتهم The Role of Emotional and Cognitive Empathy In Predicting Marital Forgiveness Among Sample of Married Couples

“…‫لا‬ ‫دفف‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫ديرجارل‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫دفالدفة‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ َ ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫ايفرفف‬ ‫ي‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫الد‬ ‫دي‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫لد‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ديز‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫اات‬ ‫دي‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫اادل‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫هة‬ ‫دلاالد‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫ديادلص‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫ة‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫لفم‬ ‫د‬ ‫لاد‬ ‫دفيا‬ ‫فا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ديفم‬ ‫ال‬ ‫د‬ ‫دياع‬ ‫دااام‬ ‫ديرجازوث‬ ‫الدفة‬ ‫د‬ ‫داار‬ ‫فهف‬ ‫ارا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫دف‬ ‫ورة‬ (Paleari et al, 2009) ‫،ا‬ ‫دق‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫لدال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫دي‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫اللوف‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫داار‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫لهم‬ ‫ار‬ ‫ي‬ ‫دف‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫ارة‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫اع‬ ‫ده‬ ‫د‬ ‫د‬ ‫كي‬ (Lerner, 2006;Miller & Worthington, 2010;DeCaporale, 2011 (Merolla & Zhang, 2011, Merolla , Zhang & Sun, 2013Sheldon, Gilchrist-Petty & Lessley, 2014;Edwards, Pask, Whitbred & ‫ا‬ Neuendorf, 2018;Sheldon & Antony, 2018;Osei-Tutuet al, (Kachadourian, Fincham & Davila, 2004;Dinwiddie, 2008;Kays, 2010;Fincham et al, 2016…”