Correlates of gay and lesbian couples' relationship satisfaction and relationship dissolution.
A sample of committed gay and lesbian cohabiting couples engaged in two conversations after being apart for at least 8 hours: (a) an events of the day conversation and (b) a conflict resolution conversation. Physiological data were collected during the conversations and a videotape record was made. Couples viewed the videotapes and rated their affect during the interaction. The video records were coded with a system that categorized specific affects displayed. Models derived from physiology, from the perception of interaction, and from specific affective behavior were related to relationship satisfaction, and to the prediction of relationship dissolution over a 12-year period. Results supported previous findings that satisfaction and stability in gay and lesbian relationships are related to similar emotional qualities as in heterosexual relationships.
Psychology Department, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
John Mordechai
JM
Gottman
Robert W
RW
Levenson
James
J
Gross
Barbara L
BL
Frederickson
Kim
K
McCoy
Leah
L
Rosenthal
Anna
A
Ruef
Dan
D
Yoshimoto
D000328:Adult; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*