The association of selected "masculine" sex-role variables with length of relationship in gay male couples.

Abstract

This study investigates the association of selected masculine sex-role characteristics with the fact that a gay male relationship is ongoing or the partners have separated. Sixty couples (30 ongoing, 30 recently separated) from a large urban area responded to a self-report battery that included measures of sex-role identification and questions on demographic data, self-disclosure to partner, degrees of cooperation, and sexual plurality. The subjects had been born in the United States, were Caucasian, and ranged in age from 21-37. To a statistically significant degree, separated respondents scored lower on cooperation than ongoing subjects and were more likely to be androgynous. No difference between the groups emerged on the variables of self-disclosure or the number of sexual experiences outside the primary relationship.