A Multimethod Examination of Stress and Support among Sexual Minority Couples

Abstract

Little is known about how sexual minority couples cope with experiences of discrimination related to sexual orientation, and whether such processes are different from the management of general life stressors. Using self-report and observational methods, we investigated differences in couple support processes by stressor type. A sample of 84 sexual minority couples ( M age = 25.4 years, SD = 4.0) completed self-report measures and two video-recorded discussions (one sexual orientation-related discrimination stressor and one general life stressor not related to sexual orientation) that were coded for observed dyadic coping and social support behavior. In self-report models, more frequent stressors experienced by either partner, regardless of type, were related to more negative dyadic coping behavior and more positive partner social support provision. Discrimination stressors were uniquely related to less positive evaluations of dyadic coping behavior, but this result did not hold when accounting for covariates and could have been confounded by age. In observed models, we found no differences in positive dyadic coping or positive social support behavior across stressor discussions, but we found significantly less negative dyadic coping behavior during discrimination stressor discussions. Future work should examine how adaptive support processes may influence relationship functioning.