Sexual minority stress and changes in relationship quality in same-sex couples

Same-sex romantic partners face the challenge of developing a positive relationship while managing stressors associated with being members of a stigmatized minority group. This study examined links between two potential sources of minority stress (internalized homonegativity and sexual orientation self-concealment) and change in predictors of relationship commitment (constraints, attractions, and satisfaction) in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Fifty-one LGB college students who were in a same-sex dating relationship with the same person throughout the study completed surveys at two time points six weeks apart. Initial levels of internalized homonegativity were associated with decreases in relationship attractions and satisfaction but not constraints. Initial self-concealment levels, however, were unrelated to changes in any of the relationship variables.