Bariola Emily, Lyons Anthony, Leonard William
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Victoria.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2015 Dec;39(6):530-5. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12432. Epub 2015 Sep 3.
To examine links between same-sex relationship formalisation - such as registered domestic partnerships and commitment ceremony unions - and mental health among lesbians and gay men, after controlling for differences in other relationship characteristics.
Data were collected via an online survey of a national sample of Australian lesbians and gay men aged 16 years and older, with the sample for analysis confined to those in a same-sex relationship (n=1,420). The K10 Psychological Distress Scale was used as an indicator of mental health.
Being in a formalised relationship was associated with lower distress for those aged 16-39 years but not for those aged 40+ years; whereas, intending to formalise was associated with higher distress among the older group. These associations remained significant after controlling for cohabitation, feeling able to seek partner emotional support, relationship tenure and financial arrangements.
Relationship formalisation appears to be an important protective factor for mental health among gay men and lesbians, especially among younger sexual minority individuals. These findings suggest that affording same-sex couples the opportunity to formalise their relationship is not only a civil rights issue but also a public health issue.
在控制其他关系特征差异之后，研究同性关系合法化（如注册家庭伴侣关系和承诺仪式结合）与男同性恋者和女同性恋者心理健康之间的联系。
通过对16岁及以上澳大利亚男同性恋者和女同性恋者全国样本进行在线调查收集数据，分析样本仅限于处于同性关系中的人（n = 1420）。使用K10心理困扰量表作为心理健康指标。
处于合法化关系中与16 - 39岁人群较低的困扰相关，但与40岁及以上人群无关；而打算使关系合法化与老年组中较高的困扰相关。在控制同居、感觉能够寻求伴侣情感支持、关系存续期和财务安排后，这些关联仍然显著。
关系合法化似乎是男同性恋者和女同性恋者心理健康的一个重要保护因素，尤其是在年轻的性少数群体中。这些发现表明，给予同性伴侣使他们的关系合法化的机会不仅是一个民权问题，也是一个公共卫生问题。
