Perceptions of partner support among pregnant plurisexual women: A qualitative study

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough partner support is an established determinant of mental health, we know little about bisexual and other plurisexual people's experiences of support from their partners. Furthermore, very limited research has examined how bisexual or plurisexual people experience partner support during pregnancy, a significant life stage for many couples. This paper draws from semi-structured interviews with 29 plurisexual women partnered with different-gender (i.e. cisgender male or transgender) partners to examine women's perceptions of partner support during pregnancy. While participants reported many of the same partner support issues and dynamics that have been described in research with monosexual childbearing women, their experiences as plurisexual women were unique in two regards: (a) unconditional acceptance from partners was connected to the partner's support for their plurisexual identities/histories; and (b) social integration support often included shared integration into social networks related to their plurisexual experiences, including sexual networks. These findings offer important implications for sexual and relationship therapists, who can play an important role in helping to foster these plurisexual-specific forms of partner support, and in so doing, improve outcomes for women during this significant life stage.