Sex Differences in the Romantic Relationships of Same-Gender Couples: The Role of Visibility Management

Abstract

Although internalized homonegativity (IH) in lesbian, gay, or bisexual people (LGBs) predicts adverse relationship satisfaction, this association has typically only been examined on an individual level. Moreover, studies often ignore potential mechanisms that underlie sex differences. One of these mechanisms is related to visibility management (i.e., the careful, planned decisions about whether or not to disclose one’s sexual orientation). Therefore, in this study we investigate dyadic sex-specific associations between IH, visibility management, and relationship satisfaction. Our sample includes 254 LGB couples (139 female and 115 male same-gender dyads) in Flanders, Belgium. Data were analyzed with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). Results indicated that there were small to medium significant correlations among IH, visibility management, and relationship satisfaction. We also found support for mediated actor effects: individuals low in IH maintain less restrictive visibility management strategies. These in turn lead to higher relationship satisfaction, but only in female same-gender couples. Our findings contribute to the understanding of mechanisms that underlie the harmful effects of sexual minority stressors for same-gender relationship satisfaction.

Perceived Discrimination and Relationship Satisfaction Among Same-Sex Couples: The Role of Dyadic Stress and Sex

“…This could be explained in several ways. First, this finding showed that the impact of perceived discrimination on relationship satisfaction is fully mediated by dyadic stress, which is consistent with previous research (Song, Buysse, Zhang, Jon, & Dewaele, 2021). In the aforementioned study, visibility management fully mediated the association between internalized homonegativity (a sexual minority stressor) and relationship satisfaction (Song et al, 2021).…”

“…First, this finding showed that the impact of perceived discrimination on relationship satisfaction is fully mediated by dyadic stress, which is consistent with previous research (Song, Buysse, Zhang, Jon, & Dewaele, 2021). In the aforementioned study, visibility management fully mediated the association between internalized homonegativity (a sexual minority stressor) and relationship satisfaction (Song et al, 2021). Second, the participants were recruited in Flanders, a relatively LGB-friendly community (Flanders; Dewaele, Van Houtte, Cox, & Vincke, 2013) where public attitudes have significantly improved toward sexual minorities.…”

Intimate Pride: A Tri-Nation Study on Associations between Positive Minority Identity Aspects and Relationship Quality in Sexual Minorities From German-Speaking Countries

“…Among our covariates, cis-female (compared to cis-male) gender and same-gender couple (compared to gender minority couple; supplementary) were positively associated with relationship quality, whilst sexual orientation (lesbian/gay compared to bi-/pansexual and compared to queer/other) was not. There is limited information on gender differences in relationship functioning in people with diverse sexual orientations (Song et al, 2021). Some studies corroborate our findings regarding cis-female vs. cis-male gender differences (Guschlbauer et al, 2019;Sommantico et al, 2019Sommantico et al, , 2020, but contrasting or nil evidence exists (Rice et al, 2020;Totenhagen et al, 2018).…”

“…First, we predicted that the German-version of the LGB-PIM would show acceptable model fit (Hypothesis 1). Second, we predicted positive associations between the five positive minority identity aspects (i.e., self-awareness, authenticity, community, intimacy, social justice) in people with diverse sexual orientations and their self-reported relationship quality, after controlling for relevant confounds, namely age (Baiocco et al, 2020;Bühler et al, 2021), gender identity (Marshall et al, 2020;Sommantico et al, 2019Sommantico et al, , 2020Song et al, 2021), sexual orientation (or couple gender in a sensitivity analysis; Baiocco et al, 2020;Morandini et al, 2018), relationship length (Bühler et al, 2021), and psychological distress (Braithwaite & Holt-Lunstad, 2017;Riggle et al, 2014;Hypothesis 2).…”

Sex and sexual orientation in the effects of coping strategies on relationship satisfaction

“…Having a stable romantic relationship is important for retaining and increasing life satisfaction and happiness (Dyrdal et al, 2011). Unfortunately, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people (LGB people) suffer from general life stressors similar to those of heterosexual couples, but they also face additional challenges associated with their sexual minority status in building and sustaining a romantic relationship (Song, Buysse, Zhang, Lasser, & Dewaele, 2022). These stressors potentially affect the stability of LGB people's romantic relationships (Rosenthal & Starks, 2015).…”