“The Best is Always Yet to Come”: Relationship Stages & Processes among Young LGBT Couples

Limited research has examined relationship development among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) couples in emerging adulthood. A better understanding of LGBT couples can inform the development of relationship education programs that reflect their unique needs. 

The following questions guided this study: 1) what are the stages and processes during young LGBT couples’ relationship development? and 2) how do these compare to existing literature on heterosexual adults? A secondary goal was to explore similarities and differences between couples assigned male (MAAB) and female at birth (FAAB). Thirty-six couples completed interviews on their relationship history. 

Qualitative analyses showed that relationship stages and processes were similar to past research on heterosexuals, but participants’ subjective experiences reflected their LGBT identities and emerging adulthood, which exerted additional stress on the relationship. These factors also affected milestones indicative of commitment among heterosexual adults (e.g., introducing partner to family). Mixed-methods analyses indicated that MAAB couples described negotiating relationship agreements and safe sex in more depth than FAAB couples. Relationship development models warrant modifications to consider the impact of sexual and gender identity and emerging adulthood when applied to young LGBT couples. These factors should be addressed in interventions to promote relationship health among young LGBT couples.

Below:  Differences in code application rates stratified by male assigned at birth (MAAB) couples and female assigned at birth (FAAB) couples. Note. Bars represent weighted code values that account for differences in sample size between groups (Dedoose, 2012). Asterisks indicate code application rates that differed by 20% or more.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/VLH2Rx

By:  Kathryn Macapagal,1 George J. Greene,1 Zenaida A. Rivera,1 and Brian Mustanski1,2

¹Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

²To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60611; Email: ude.nretsewhtron@nairb; phone: 312.503.5421; fax: 312.503.4800

 

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