title: Comparing Heterosexuals' and Gay Men/Lesbians' Responses to Relationship Problems and the Effects of Internalized Homophobia on Gay Men/Lesbians' Responses to Relationship Problems in Turkey.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate the effects of sexual orientation (heterosexuals and gay men/lesbians) and gender difference on responses to romantic relationship problems (Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect [EVLN] responses) and of perceived partner's EVLN responses in Turkey, and (2) to examine whether internalized homophobia was associated with EVLN responses and perceived partner's EVLN responses for gay men and lesbians. Responses to Dissatisfaction Scale-Accommodation Instrument, Internalized Homophobia, and Demographics Information were administered to 187 participants (44 lesbians, 44 gay men, 53 heterosexual women, 46 heterosexual men).The MANCOVA results showed that men reported higher loyalty than women, whereas women presented more exit responses than men. Further, the interactions between gender and sexual orientation on the participants' EVLN responses and on the perceived partner's EVLN responses were significant. With respect to heterosexual women, heterosexual men displayed more loyalty responses. Lesbians had higher scores on loyalty than did heterosexual women. Lesbians also had higher scores on perceived partner's exit response than did heterosexual women and gay men. On the contrary, heterosexual women reported more perceived partner's voice response than lesbians. In addition, lesbians reported higher perceived partner's neglect responses than heterosexual women. Compared to heterosexual women, heterosexual men reported higher perceived partner's exit response. Finally, internalized homophobia was associated with destructive responses for both lesbians and gay men.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters , Yüzüncü Yıl University , Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okutan
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters , Ankara University, Sıhhıye , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buyuksahin Sunal
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , Middle East Technical University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakalli Ugurlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D063509:Homophobia; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dissatisfaction; exit; gay men; heterosexual; internalized homophobia; lesbians; loyalty; neglect; opposite-sex partners; same-sex partners; voice