Predicting Relationship Satisfaction in LGBQ + People Using Internalized Stigma, Outness, and Concealment

Abstract

Minority stress has a range of negative and protective outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other sexual minority (LGBQ+) people. The internalization of societal stigma associated with sexual minority relationships may impact decisions related to outness and/or concealment of one’s romantic relationship, which may affect the relationship. Building on previous research, we examined whether internalized stigma and sexual orientation concealment predicted lower romantic relationship satisfaction in LGBQ + people, and whether outness about one’s sexual orientation predicted better relationship satisfaction. We also examined whether outness and concealment mediated internalized stigma's effects on relationship satisfaction. Hierarchical regression results (N = 214) demonstrated that internalized stigma was a significant negative predictor of relationship satisfaction, outness was a significant positive predictor, and concealment was not a unique predictor. Mediation analysis demonstrated that internalized stigma had a significant direct effect on relationship satisfaction, along with a significant indirect effect through lower outness. Although internalized stigma was associated with greater concealment, concealment did not mediate the relationship between it and relationship satisfaction. Kelley and Thibault’s interdependence model, alongside minority stress theory, are used to understand these variables' effects on relationship satisfaction. Counseling and research implications are discussed.