Similarities and Differences in the Pursuit of Intimacy among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals: A Personal Projects Analysis

Frost, David M.

doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01698.x

Cited by 48 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Interestingly, moderate to strong correlations reported in this study were similar in magnitude to the associations between emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction previously reported in studies conducted among heterosexual individuals and couples (Hanning et al, 2007;Sprecher, 2002). In contrast to the once widespread belief that gay men are incapable of developing relationship intimacy (Frost, 2011;Meyer & Dean, 1998) and that male same-sex couples are emotionally disengaged (Balsam et al, 2008), our findings strongly suggest that the role of intimacy in men's romantic relationships and sexual satisfaction is not sexual orientation-specific.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Considering the volume of studies discussing the role of discrimination and stigma in LGB persons' lives on the individual level, including the confirmed mental health disparities between LGBs and heterosexuals (Fergusson, Horwood, Ridder, & Beautrais, 2005;Lewis, 2009;Logie, 2012;Sandfort, de Graaf, Bijl, & Schnabel, 2001), it is surprising that only a few studies so far have investigated the role of minority stressors in same-sex couple functioning (see Doyle & Molix, 2014a;Frost, 2011;Frost & Meyer, 2009;Kamen, Burns, & Beach, 2011;Mohr & Daly, 2008;Otis, Rostosky, Riggle, & Hamrin, 2006;Szymanski & Hilton, 2013). Using the personal projects analysis method, Frost (2011) found that LGB participants reported significantly more devaluation and barriers (via prejudice, discrimination, and stigmatization) to the development of intimacy in their relationships than did heterosexual individuals.…”

Section: Intimacy Romantic Relationships and Minority Stressmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Using the personal projects analysis method, Frost (2011) found that LGB participants reported significantly more devaluation and barriers (via prejudice, discrimination, and stigmatization) to the development of intimacy in their relationships than did heterosexual individuals. In their study of female and male same-sex couples, Otis et al (2006) and Mohr and Daly (2008) reported higher levels of internalized homonegativity to be predictive of lower relationship quality/satisfaction.…”

Section: Intimacy Romantic Relationships and Minority Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intimacy is usually described as a relational process that encompasses affective aspects of personal bonds and includes feelings of understanding, personal validation, closeness, mutual self-disclosure, caring, support, and trust (Frost, 2011;Laurenceau, Barrett, & Pietromonaco, 1998;Prager, 1995;Reis, 2007). Consequently, emotional intimacy shared with one's partner is considered to be a fundamental component of romantic relationships (Jankowiak & Fisher, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Emotional Intimacy Among Coupled Heterosexual and Gay/Bisexual Croatian Men: Assessing the Role of Minority Stress

2015

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Emotional intimacy cuts across contexts as diverse as sexual motivation and satisfaction, psychological and physical health, and relational well-being. Although the experience of intimacy and its effects on sex life may be gender and sexual orientation-specific, the role of intimacy in personal and sexual relationships has been studied mostly among heterosexual individuals and couples. Using the minority stress framework (Meyer, 2003) to address this gap in knowledge, the present study comparatively explored levels and predictors/correlates of emotional intimacy, and its association with sexual satisfaction among coupled heterosexual and gay/bisexual men sampled online in a predominantly homonegative country (Croatia). Heterosexual participants (n = 860; M age = 36.4, SD = 9.09) were recruited in 2011 and gay/bisexual participants (n = 250; M age = 29.4, SD = 7.13) in 2013. Controlling for age and relationship duration, gay/bisexual men reported higher levels of emotional intimacy than heterosexual men. Suggesting that the role of emotional intimacy in sexual satisfaction is not sexual orientation-specific, the strength of the association between these two constructs was similar in both samples. However, internalized homonegativity, which was negatively associated with emotional intimacy in this study, remains a challenge to creating and maintaining intimacy in male same-sex relationships.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Intimacy Romantic Relationships and Minority Stressmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Intimacy Romantic Relationships and Minority Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Emotional Intimacy Among Coupled Heterosexual and Gay/Bisexual Croatian Men: Assessing the Role of Minority Stress

2015

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“…For example, Frost (2009) conducted a narrative study of individuals in heterosexual and same-sex relationships to understand similarities and differences in the ways in which individuals construct meanings of intimacy. Following previous quantitative research (Frost 2011b), this narrative approach revealed no substantial differences in the relationship stories that heterosexual and same-sex couples told about important events in their relationships regarding themes of intimacy contained within their event narratives (Frost 2009). However, compared to heterosexuals, members of same-sex couples told stories about their relationships that more often involved experiences of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, often stemming from experiences with policy-level discrimination or lack of legal recognition.…”

Section: Narrative Research and Social Justicementioning

confidence: 98%

A Search for Meaning: Recognizing the Potential of Narrative Research in Social Policy-Making Efforts

Frost

Ouellette

2011

Sex Res Soc Policy

Self Cite

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In recent decades, narrative research has gained increasing prominence in social and health sciences. However, the role that narrative research has played in social policy-making efforts has been small compared to that of quantitative research. This paper highlights the ways in which theoretical stances, questions, methods, and findings from narrative research can be useful in social policy-making arenas. Particular attention is paid to research conducted in the narrative study of lives tradition in psychology, gerontology, and related social sciences. Narrative research that seeks to understand individual lives in all their complexity and in the contexts in which they are lived can be particularly useful in informing sexuality-related policy concerns given the complex nature of sexuality. By focusing on the current policy concern of same-sex relationship recognition, this paper demonstrates that (a) narrative research offers much to the study of social policy and social justice via its ability to illuminate the complex interplay between everyday lived experience and social structures and (b) there is a need to redefine what counts as research evidence in policy-making efforts to be more inclusive of narrative work. In making these arguments, examples of recent narrative research are highlighted regarding their direct relevance to sexuality-related social policy. The paper concludes with suggestions by which researchers and policy makers can productively incorporate narrative research into their work by focusing on the complimentary potential for findings from quantitative and narrative research.

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Same‐sex couples

Fingerhut

Frost

2015

The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality

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Same‐sex couples, or couples where both the partners are of the same sex or gender, have long existed, though recent changes in the social and political climate have brought these couples into the spotlight. Researchers interested in studying same‐sex couples have examined the dynamics in these couples and have explored similarities and differences between same‐sex and different‐sex couples. Generally there is large overlap between same‐sex and different‐sex couples on such measures as liking and loving, as well as in how the relationships evolve with time. Despite this, there are some differences between the couple types. Ideas for future research are explored, especially in the context of a need to better understand differences within same‐sex couples as opposed to between same‐sex and different‐sex couples.

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Similarities and Differences in the Pursuit of Intimacy among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals: A Personal Projects Analysis

Cited by 48 publications

References 52 publications

Emotional Intimacy Among Coupled Heterosexual and Gay/Bisexual Croatian Men: Assessing the Role of Minority Stress

Emotional Intimacy Among Coupled Heterosexual and Gay/Bisexual Croatian Men: Assessing the Role of Minority Stress

A Search for Meaning: Recognizing the Potential of Narrative Research in Social Policy-Making Efforts

Same‐sex couples

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