Adult romantic relationships as contexts of human development: a multimethod comparison of same-sex couples with opposite-sex dating, engaged, and married dyads.
This article presents a multimethod, multi-informant comparison of community samples of committed gay male (n=30) and lesbian (n=30) couples with both committed (n=50 young engaged and n=40 older married) and noncommitted (n=109 exclusively dating) heterosexual pairs. Specifically, in this study the quality of same- and opposite-sex relationships was examined at multiple levels of analysis via self-reports and partner reports, laboratory observations, and measures of physiological reactivity during dyadic interactions. Additionally, individuals in same-sex, engaged, and marital relationships were compared with one another on adult attachment security as assessed through the coherence of participants' narratives about their childhood experiences. Results indicated that individuals in committed same-sex relationships were generally not distinguishable from their committed heterosexual counterparts, with one exception--lesbians were especially effective at working together harmoniously in laboratory observations.
Roisman
Glenn I
GI
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Clausell
Eric
E
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Holland
Ashley
A
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Fortuna
Keren
K
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Elieff
Chryle
C
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording