Observed communication and relationship quality in female same-gender couples.

Abstract

Relationship interventions typically focus on reducing destructive communication patterns between partners. However, a dearth of research exists regarding communication dynamics within female same-gender (FSG) couples. The current study sought to expand basic science on communication dynamics within FSG couples with the overarching goal of informing relationship interventions. Participants included 102 adult FSG couples who provided self-report data and participated in observational communication tasks. Actor-partner interdependence models (Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) were used for analyses predicting relationship adjustment, dedication, and psychological aggression. Findings suggest that actors' negative and positive communication patterns were associated with relationship quality outcomes. Negative communication demonstrated stronger associations with relationship quality and psychological aggression compared with positive communication, and partner's positive communication was associated with psychological aggression. Overall, results suggest that communication processes traditionally addressed by relationship interventions would likely be beneficial to focus on with FSG couples. Clinical implications are discussed, including how to incorporate cultural competence into relationship interventions for FSG couples.

Reasons for relationship dissolution in female same-gender and queer couples.

“…When given an open format to share their breakup story, several participants identified challenges navigating open or nonmonogamous relationships. Consistent with previous research, these findings suggest that some female same-gender couples who eventually break up may struggle with sexual satisfaction in their relationships (Scott, Rhoades, et al, 2019) but expands on how some participants attempted to resolve these problems through different mechanisms. Specifically, some participants engaged in infidelity once relationship quality or sexual satisfaction decreased, consistent with previous research on female same-gender couples who broke up (Balsam et al, 2017; Gartrell et al, 2011).…”

“…Participants were pulled from a larger longitudinal study on female same-gender couples (Scott, Rhoades, et al, 2019, 2021). At the initial assessment at Wave 1 (recruited between 2013 and 2014 1 ), eligibility included that the couple identified as a female same-gender couple, spoke English, and had been in a committed romantic relationship for at least 2 months.…”

Intimate partner violence in female same-gender couples: An investigation of actor–partner correlates within the past year.

“…Our findings found no significant relationship between positive communication and the risk of IPV use. Taken together, these findings suggest that the “negativity effect”—referring to how negative communication is more predictive of relationship quality compared with positive communication—likely translates to female same-gender couples and expands this concept to the risk of IPV use (Markman et al, 2010; Scott et al, 2019).…”

“…Data for this study were drawn from a larger study of relationship functioning among female same-gender couples (Scott et al, 2019). Participants included 103 adult female same-gender couples ( N = 206) who spoke English and reported a minimum relationship length of 2 months.…”

“Life is already hard enough”: Lesbian and gay adoptive parents’ experiences and concerns after the 2016 presidential election.

“…For instance, they can reframe experiences of discrimination in a way that externalizes the root of the problem outside the couple (Frost, 2014). Practitioners can also help couples focus on the positive aspects of their relationship in order to improve communication and relationship quality (Scott et al, 2019). This may be particularly important for lesbian mothers, who may place a higher emphasis on relationship quality than gay fathers (see Balsam et al, 2017).…”