Linking Intradyad Coparenting Stressor and Extradyad Heterosexist Discrimination Stressor With Chinese Sexual Minority Mothers' Couple Relationship Quality: The Moderating Role of Internalized Homophobia

The associations between stress and couple relationship outcomes among sexual minorities have gained much attention during recent decades. Yet, there is still a dearth of research examining the implications of both extradyad and intradyad stressors for relational well-being in these populations, especially research on the moderating mechanisms to clarify conditions under which such effects may occur. In addition, research based on non-Western samples in this field is extremely scarce, despite the historical conservativeness toward sexual minorities in many non-Western cultures. To narrow such gaps, we collected data from a sample of 96 Chinese sexual minority mothers to examine the linkages of their experiences of heterosexist discrimination (as an extradyad stressor) and their perceived coparenting undermining from the partner (as an intradyad stressor) with their perceptions of couple relationship quality. We also tested the potential moderating role of mothers' internalized homophobia (IHP) in such associations. Results indicated that IHP moderated the associations between two stressors and couple relationship quality. More exposure to heterosexist discrimination was associated with lower same-sex couple relationship quality only among mothers who had higher IHP; more perceived coparenting undermining from the partner was associated with lower relationship quality only among mothers with lower IHP. This study is among the initial efforts that seek to address the complexity in sexual minorities' experiences of stigma, close relationships, as well as parenthood in the Chinese cultural context. Our findings would inform practices aimed at helping sexual minority couples and parents navigate challenges across various daily life domains.