The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on same-sex couples’ conflict avoidance, relational quality, and mental health

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted the management and trajectory of same-sex relationships. This study considered the mediational role of same-sex partners’ conflict avoidance and the moderating roles of individual and contextual vulnerability factors in the face of the pandemic. Results showed that greater adverse daily life impacts and higher perceived threat of COVID-19 predicted more complaint avoidance, which in turn predicted lower relationship satisfaction and higher anxiety, depression, and substance use. Being a person of color and having higher internalized homophobia exacerbated the pandemic’s negative effects on relationship satisfaction. While moving in with partners during the pandemic was related to more complaint avoidance, lower relational satisfaction, higher relationship termination intentions, and greater mental health risks, it also buffered the negative effects of the pandemic on relational well-being. Same-sex couples are encouraged to constructively solve relational issues and actively discuss moving in decisions. More efforts should be devoted to understanding multiple pandemic-related stressors facing same-sex couples.

Relational turbulence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of the reciprocal effects between relationship characteristics and outcomes of relational turbulence

“…Relatedly, the people who performed essential labor during the pandemic were vastly overrepresented by individuals from minority communities (Hammonds et al, 2020). The added stressors experienced by racial and ethnic minorities under these circumstances are not fully represented in these data, but they point to additional factors that may exacerbate tensions and relational turbulence for minority couples (Li & Samp, 2021). In addition, conditions requiring couples to stay at home may have created unsafe circumstances for individuals experiencing domestic violence who were unable to remove themselves from danger (Kofman & Garfin, 2020).…”

Introduction to the special issue: Relationships in the time of COVID-19

“…Findings in unique relationship contexts are of note as well in this first issue of published COVID-19 articles. For instance, in same-sex relationships, experiencing higher perceived threat of COVID-19 predicted greater avoidance of complaints, which then predicted decreased relationship satisfaction, and increased depression, anxiety, and substance use (Li & Samp, 2021). The relationship between COVID-19 perceived threat and relationship satisfaction was particularly strong for people of color and those with greater internalized homophobia (Li & Samp, 2021).…”

“…For instance, in same-sex relationships, experiencing higher perceived threat of COVID-19 predicted greater avoidance of complaints, which then predicted decreased relationship satisfaction, and increased depression, anxiety, and substance use (Li & Samp, 2021). The relationship between COVID-19 perceived threat and relationship satisfaction was particularly strong for people of color and those with greater internalized homophobia (Li & Samp, 2021). Further, for single individuals, physical attractiveness remained an important partner preference in the face of higher COVID-19 concern, which was contrary to Alexopoulos et al's (in press) prediction, alongside increases in family commitment and the importance of stability.…”

Conclusion to the special issue: Relationships in the time of COVID-19: Examining the effects of the global pandemic on personal relationships

“…Li and Samp (2021) studied same-sex couples and found that those that perceived greater daily adversity during the pandemic and felt a higher degree of threat of COVID-19 (i.e., fear that they and their loved one will get sick) engaged in more complaint avoidance with partners which in turn led to lower relationship satisfaction and decreased personal well-being. The negative effects of the pandemic on relationship satisfaction were higher for people of color and those with higher amounts of internalized homophobia (Li & Samp, 2021). Johnson et al (2021) used Family Communication Patterns Theory (Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 2006) to examine family arguments about social distancing during the pandemic.…”