“It may be legal, but it is not treated equally”: marriage equality and well-being implications for same-sex couples

Kennedy, Heather R.; Dalla, Rochelle L.

doi:10.1080/10538720.2019.1681340

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…For example, samesex couples still experience unequal treatment and stigma in interpersonal interactions despite marriage equality. 11,44 Research has also found that community-level social climate (which was not assessed in the current study) is an important predictor of sexual minority health outcomes, 12,27,45 and supportive policy environments are more protective of sexual minority people's health in the context social climates that affirm their identities. 27 The health-promoting implications of concurrent improvements in policy and social climate may become more evident over time vis-à-vis shifts toward more affirming public attitudes and policies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Differential Effects of State Policy Environments on Substance Use by Sexual Identity: Findings From the 2000–2015 National Alcohol Surveys

et al. 2021

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Introduction: This study explored whether structural stigma, defined by U.S. state policies related to sexual minority rights, moderated the relationship between sexual identity identity and heavy drinking, alcohol problems, and marijuana use among men and women. Methods: Using combined data from the National Alcohol Survey (NAS) series (2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015), the sample included 11,115 men (421 sexual minority and 10,694 heterosexual) and 14,395 women (413 sexual minority and 13,982 heterosexual). State policy environment was assessed using a time-varying dichotomous indicator of comprehensive protections for sexual minorities (4–6 protections vs. limited or no protections). Gender-stratified logistic regression analyses examined the differential effect of the policy environment by sexual identity on three past-year substance use outcomes: high-intensity drinking (8+ drinks/day), any DSM-5 alcohol use disorder, and marijuana use. Results: Among women, sexual minority status was associated with increased odds of all alcohol and marijuana use outcomes. Among men, sexual minority status was associated with decreased odds of high-intensity drinking but increased use of marijuana. Comprehensive policy protections were associated significantly decreased odds of high-intensity drinking among sexual minority men and marginally significant decreases among women. Conclusions: Comprehensive policy protections appear to be protective for high-intensity drinking among sexual minority men and women. Findings underscore the importance of supportive policies in reducing risk of alcohol-related problems among sexual minorities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Differential Effects of State Policy Environments on Substance Use by Sexual Identity: Findings From the 2000–2015 National Alcohol Surveys

et al. 2021

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“…Further, residence in states with policies that permit discrimination based on sexual orientation were associated with adverse health outcomes among sexual minorities. For example, prior to the 2015 extension of marriage rights to all same-sex couples in the U.S., research found greater evidence of psychological distress and worse self-reported health among sexual minorities living in states that prohibited same-sex marriage compared to those living in states that legalized it ( Carpenter et al, 2018 ; Frost and Fingerhut, 2016 ; Gonzales and Ehrenfeld, 2018 ; Hatzenbuehler et al, 2010 ; Kail et al, 2015 ; Kennedy and Dalla, 2020 ; Raifman et al, 2017 ; Riggle et al, 2009 ). Policy protections for sexual minorities appear to positively impact health outcomes among sexual minorities, but have no impact – or only modest positive impact – on heterosexuals ( Drabble et al, 2021 ; Hatzenbuehler et al, 2010 ; Solazzo et al, 2018 ; Titus et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the policy environment on substance use among sexual minority women

Drabble

Munroe

Mericle

et al. 2022

Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports

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“…Similarly, research with gay and lesbian couples has found a negative relationship between proximal minority stressors such as internalized homophobia and same-sex relationship quality (Li & Samp, 2019), as well as outness and relationship commitment (Totenhagen et al, 2018). On the contrary, research on distal stressors such as the change from access to marriage rights dependent on one’s geographic location to federal marriage equality found that partners in same-sex relationships perceived marriage rights as positively impacting their relationship (Kennedy & Dalla, 2019). Therefore, minority stress may be a mediator of the distal stressor of unequal parentage and relationship satisfaction, which, in turn, may be associated with parental stress.…”

Section: Lgbtq Parentingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unequal rights between LGBTQ parents living in the U.S.: The association of minority stress to relationship satisfaction and parental stress.

Horne¹,

Johnson²,

Yel³

et al. 2022

Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice

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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals who become parents in the United States may not be granted legal recognition as parents upon beginning their families, which can result in inequality in parenting rights between partners. In an online survey with 420 LGBTQ parents who were living with a partner with whom they had cocreated a family and had at least one child under age 18, we explored whether parents in couples with unequal rights (N = 113) report minority stress, and whether minority stress was related to relationship dissatisfaction and parental stress. Explored through a mediated path model, parents in couples with unequal rights reported less disclosure about LGBTQ identity and more worry about family discrimination in comparison with parents in couples with full rights. Furthermore, these minority stressors were related to relationship dissatisfaction and associated with parental stress. Unequal rights, accompanied by worry about discrimination and lower reported outness, may put a strain on the couple relationship, which, in turn, may be associated with parental stress. Advocacy efforts should be employed to reduce obstacles to full parentage rights for LGBTQ families. Clinical implications for working with LGBTQ parents with discrepant rights are discussed.

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“It may be legal, but it is not treated equally”: marriage equality and well-being implications for same-sex couples

Cited by 23 publications

References 82 publications

Differential Effects of State Policy Environments on Substance Use by Sexual Identity: Findings From the 2000–2015 National Alcohol Surveys

Differential Effects of State Policy Environments on Substance Use by Sexual Identity: Findings From the 2000–2015 National Alcohol Surveys

Impact of the policy environment on substance use among sexual minority women

Unequal rights between LGBTQ parents living in the U.S.: The association of minority stress to relationship satisfaction and parental stress.

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