Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Department of Psychology, DePaul University.
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2018 May;86(5):416-426. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000296.
In different-sex couples, individual and partner stress can both have a negative impact on relationship functioning (actor and partner effects). Gay and bisexual men experience unique stress (sexual minority stress), but few studies have examined the effects of this stress on relationship functioning among young male couples. The current study examined (a) actor and partner effects of general and minority stress (internalized stigma, microaggressions, victimization, and outness) on relationship functioning (relationship quality and negative relationship interactions), (b) interactions between individual and partner stress as predictors of relationship functioning, and (c) dyadic coping and relationship length as moderators of actor and partner effects.
Actor-partner interdependence models were tested using data from 153 young male couples.
There was strong support for actor effects. Higher general stress and internalized stigma were associated with lower relationship quality, but only for those in longer relationships. Additionally, higher general stress, internalized stigma, and microaggressions, and lower outness, were associated with more negative relationship interactions. There was limited support for partner effects. Having a partner with higher internalized stigma was associated with more negative relationship interactions, but none of the other partner effects were significant. There was no support for individual and partner stress interacting to predict relationship functioning or for dyadic coping as a stress buffer.
Findings highlight the influence of one's own experiences of general and minority stress on relationship functioning, but raise questions about how partner stress influences relationship functioning among young male couples. (PsycINFO Database Record
在异性伴侣中，个体和伴侣的压力都会对关系功能产生负面影响（主体和伴侣效应）。男同性恋和双性恋者会经历独特的压力（性少数群体压力），但很少有研究探讨这种压力对年轻男性伴侣关系功能的影响。本研究考察了（a）一般和少数群体压力（内化耻辱感、微侵犯、受害和公开程度）对关系功能（关系质量和负面关系互动）的主体和伴侣效应；（b）个体和伴侣压力作为关系功能预测指标的相互作用；以及（c）对偶应对抗和关系长度作为主体和伴侣效应的调节因素。
使用来自 153 对年轻男性伴侣的数据，测试了主体-伙伴相互依存模型。
主体效应得到了强有力的支持。较高的一般压力和内化耻辱感与较低的关系质量相关，但仅在关系较长的伴侣中如此。此外，较高的一般压力、内化耻辱感和微侵犯，以及较低的公开程度，与更多的负面关系互动相关。伴侣效应的支持有限。伴侣的内化耻辱感较高与更多的负面关系互动相关，但其他伴侣效应均不显著。个体和伴侣压力相互作用来预测关系功能，或对偶应对抗作为压力缓冲的作用均没有得到支持。
研究结果强调了个体自身经历的一般和少数群体压力对关系功能的影响，但也提出了关于伴侣压力如何影响年轻男性伴侣关系功能的问题。
