Women In Same-sex Research Articles

Evolutionary Role of the Female Orgasm: Insights into Mate Choice and Beyond.

The female orgasm remains a subject of extensive debate within evolutionary sciences, primarily due to the absence of a consensus regarding its adaptive function. Some hypotheses propose that it could function as a mechanism for mate selection, possibly linked to reproductive strategies. Studies have observed that lesbian women tend to experience orgasms more frequently than straight women, suggesting a potential link to advantageous partner characteristics. We explored the connection between the female orgasm and mate selection, aiming to ascertain its role as an adaptive tool for mate choice. A total of 939 sexually active Brazilian women (Mage = 28.3years) engaged in committed relationships participated by completing the Marital Empathy Questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index, and evaluations of their partners' attributes. Analysis using structural equation models revealed that higher orgasm scores were positively associated with perceptions of partner kindness, intelligence, good health, physical attractiveness, and empathy. However, the small effect sizes of these associations warrant caution in their interpretation, and no significant association was found for relationship duration, financial prospects, dominance, and masculinity/femininity. Additionally, no differences were found between women in same-sex and other-sex relationships regarding orgasm frequency and its association with partner traits. The findings partially support the mate-choice theory, encompassing both sire-choice and pair-bond hypotheses, suggesting that female orgasm is positively associated with some partner attributes related to genetic quality and the capability for emotional connection and resource investment. Therefore, female orgasm may offer information about the partner that might not be primarily accessed and contribute to relationship maintenance.

EMPATHIC RESPONSE AND MARITAL QUALITY FOR SAME- AND DIFFERENT-SEX MIDLIFE COUPLES: MEDIATING ROLE OF DYADIC COPING

Abstract Dyadic coping is a daily interpersonal process that married couples use to manage stress and maintain their marriage. However, little is known about its mediating role in the association between empathic response and marital quality among same-sex and different-sex couples. This study aimed to examine the extent to which dyadic coping mediates the association between empathic response and marital quality, focusing on middle-aged men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages. We used dyadic data from the Health and Relationships Project (HARP), including 124 gay, 171 lesbian, and 124 straight couples. Results from the actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) showed that dyadic coping within couples mediated the association between empathic response and marital quality for all couple types (i.e., gay, lesbian, and straight couples). More empathic response was associated with better dyadic coping, which led to higher marital quality. While such mediated paths did not differ significantly between gay and lesbian couples, direct associations between empathic responses and marital quality were only significant among lesbian couples. Additionally, there were gendered patterns within straight couples; while female spouses’ empathic response was associated with their and their male spouses’ marital quality through the couple’s dyadic coping, such a mediated path was not significant for male spouses’ empathic response. These findings suggest dyadic coping as an effective strategy for enhancing marital quality among same-sex and different-sex married couples, but the mediating role of dyadic coping is gendered in different-sex marriages.

Sexual Motives, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms Among Midlife Different-Sex and Same-Sex Couples.

Within relationships, sexual motives and stress are independent determinants of psychological health, with notable gendered patterns. However, previous research largely focuses on young adults and different-sex couples. Both sexual motives and levels of stress may be uniquely important to psychological health in midlife, and in potentially different ways for same-sex and different-sex couples. This study examined how the associations between sexual motives, stress, and depressive symptoms differ for midlife men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages. Using dyadic data from same-sex and different-sex midlife married couples (N = 830 individuals; 415 couples), we examined the associations of intrinsic (e.g., sex for enjoyment and pleasure) and extrinsic (e.g., sex to please one's spouse) motives for having sex with depressive symptoms and tested whether these associations differed by levels of stress for same-sex and different-sex spouses. Intrinsic sexual motives were associated with fewer depressive symptoms only for same-sex married couples under high stress. Extrinsic sexual motives were related to greater depressive symptoms for women in low-stress conditions and men in high-stress conditions, and this did not differ for same-sex compared to different-sex marriages. Results show that the interplay between sexual motives and stress varies for men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages. These findings underscore the importance of considering both gender and sexuality in studying sexual motives in midlife and suggest sexual motives as a useful treatment focus for protecting the psychological health of midlife married couples.

Hypertensive and Diabetic Disorders of Pregnancy in Women in Same-Sex Versus Different-Sex Marriages [A188

INTRODUCTION: Sexual-minority women may have higher rates of adverse perinatal outcomes; however, population level maternal morbidity has not been studied in this group. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of birth certificates from Massachusetts (2012–2018) and Ohio (2016–2018). Within each state, women giving birth in same-sex marriages were compared to those in different-sex marriages. Outcomes included gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (GHTN/PEC), chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Chi-square tests were used for comparisons. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for age, parity, race, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Of the 315,432 and 323,841 birth records from married individuals in Massachusetts and Ohio, respectively, 1,997 (0.6%) and 1,677 (0.2%) were from those in same-sex marriages. In both states, women giving birth in same-sex marriages had higher rates of nulliparity, age over 35, obesity, and tobacco use. In Ohio they were more likely to be of Black race, lower education level, and utilizing WIC, but in Massachusetts they were more likely to be of White race, higher educational level, and not utilizing WIC. In both states, this population had higher rates of GHTN (3.5% versus 2.3%), PEC (11.8% versus 8.8%), and, in Massachusetts, chronic hypertension (3% versus 1.7%) (all P<.001). In the multivariable logistic regression models, the adjusted odds ratios of GHTN/PEC, chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, or gestational diabetes were similar between women in same-sex and different-sex marriages. CONCLUSION: In two large populations, women in same-sex marriages were significantly more likely to have GHTN/SPEC, but not after controlling for known risk factors, all of which were higher in this population.

Share of Household Earnings and Time Use of Women in Same-Sex and Different-Sex Households

We investigate the impact of the share of household earnings on time use in household labor among women in same-sex households and different-sex households in the USA. Contrary to the U-shape pattern found among heterosexual women, we find an inverse U-shape relationship between time spent in household labor and earnings share for lesbians. This result holds when we divide the sample into households with and without children. These findings are most consistent with preferences for relational equality.

Psychological Distress Transmission in Same-sex and Different-sex Marriages.

Ample work stresses the interdependence of spouses' psychological distress and that women are more influenced by their spouse's distress than men. Yet previous studies have focused primarily on heterosexual couples, raising questions about whether and how this gendered pattern might unfold for men and women in same-sex marriages. We analyze 10 days of diary data from a purposive sample of men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages ( n = 756 individuals from 378 couples) to examine psychological distress transmission between spouses and how this process may differ for men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages. We find that women are more strongly influenced by their partners' distress than men, regardless of whether they are married to a man or a woman, and that this relationship is particularly strong for women with male spouses.

Winners and Losers in Health Insurance: Access and Type of Coverage for Women in Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Partnerships

Using data from the American Community Survey, 2009 (N = 580,754), we compared rates of health insurance coverage and types of coverage used between women in same-sex and opposite-sex partnerships. This large, national dataset also allowed us to investigate regional variation in insurance coverage for women in same-sex partnerships by comparing “gay-tolerant” states versus other states. Multivariate analyses revealed that women in same-sex partnerships consistently had lower rates of health insurance coverage than married women in opposite-sex partnerships, but always more than unmarried women in opposite-sex partnerships. We also found that state-level variation in gay tolerance did not contribute to the access or type of coverage used by women in same-sex partnerships.

Same-sex cohabiting elders versus different-sex cohabiting and married elders: Effects of relationship status and sex of partner on economic and health outcomes

In this article, I use pooled data from the 2008–2010 American Community Surveys to examine outcomes for different-sex married, different-sex cohabiting, and same-sex cohabiting elders across several key economic and health indicators, as well as other demographic characteristics. The findings suggest that elders in same-sex cohabiting partnerships differ from those in different-sex marriages and different-sex cohabiting relationships in terms of both financial and health outcomes, and that women in same-sex cohabiting partnerships fare worse than men or women in other couple types. The results indicate that financial implications related to the sex of one’s partner might be more predictive of economic and health outcomes in old age, rather than solely access to legal marriage. Nonetheless, findings suggest that individuals in same-sex cohabiting partnerships might experience worse outcomes in old age as a result of cumulative effects across the life course from both the sex of their partner (in the case of female couples) as well as their lack of access to benefits associated with marriage. Accordingly, these findings demonstrate that persons in same-sex cohabiting partnerships require unique policy considerations to address health and economic concerns in old age.

Women's Sexual Satisfaction as a Predictor of Well-Being in Same-Sex Versus Mixed-Sex Relationships

Structural equation modelling was used to assess the strengths of the links between sexual satisfaction and self-reported (a) relationship well-being, (b) mental health, and (c) physical health for women in same-sex (i.e., homosexual, n = 114) versus mixed-sex (i.e., heterosexual, n = 208) relationships. Participants came from a large-scale Internet study. Sexual satisfaction was found to be an extremely strong predictor of relational well-being, a strong predictor of mental health, and a weak to moderately strong predictor of physical health. A two-group comparison model indicated that the strength of these links was the same, regardless of whether the women were in a sexual relationship with a man or with another woman.

Predictors of Intimacy for Women in Heterosexual and Homosexual Couples

This study investigated individual differences in self-esteem, capacity for intimacy, relationship values and influence strategy use as factors in self-reported intimacy levels for women in homosexual and heterosexual couples. There were no differences by relationship type in levels of self-esteem, capacity for intimacy or in the valuing of relationship qualities. Women in both types of couples described their relationships as highly intimate and reported using Direct/Bilateral influence strategies most frequently. For both groups, higher levels of relationship intimacy were associated with more frequent use of Direct/Bilateral strategies and less frequent use of Indirect/Unilateral and Indirect/Bilateral strategies. Capacity for intimacy and self-esteem were strongly positively related to intimacy for women in same-sex but not cross-sex couples. The best predictor of intimacy for women in heterosexual couples was a negative one: more frequent use of Indirect strategies was associated with lower levels of intimacy.