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Couple-level Minority Stress: An Examination of Same-sex Couples' Unique Experiences

Frost, DM; LeBlanc, AJ; de Vries, B; Alston-Stepnitz, E; Stephenson, R; Woodyatt, C; (2017) Couple-level Minority Stress: An Examination of Same-sex Couples' Unique Experiences. Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 58 (4) pp. 455-472. 10.1177/0022146517736754. Green open access

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Abstract

Social stress resulting from stigma, prejudice, and discrimination—“minority stress”—negatively impacts sexual minority individuals’ health and relational well-being. The present study examined how being in a same-sex couple can result in exposure to unique minority stressors not accounted for at the individual level. Relationship timeline interviews were conducted with 120 same-sex couples equally distributed across two study sites (Atlanta and San Francisco), gender (male and female), and relationship duration (at least six months but less than three years, at least three years but less than seven years, and seven or more years). Directed content analyses identified 17 unique couple-level minority stressors experienced within nine distinct social contexts. Analyses also revealed experiences of dyadic minority stress processes (stress discrepancies and stress contagion). These findings can be useful in future efforts to better understand and address the cumulative impact of minority stress on relational well-being and individual health.

Type: Article
Title: Couple-level Minority Stress: An Examination of Same-sex Couples' Unique Experiences
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1177/0022146517736754
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022146517736754
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: minority stress, relationships, same-sex couples, stigma, stress process
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Social Research Institute
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10022700
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