Sexual Minority Stress and Same-Sex Relationship Well-being: A Meta-analysis of Research Prior to the U.S. Nationwide Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

Abstract

Meta-analytic methods were used to analyze 179 effect sizes retrieved from 32 research reports on the implications that sexual minority stress may have for same-sex relationship well-being. Sexual minority stress (aggregated across different types of stress) is moderately and negatively associated with same-sex relationship well-being (aggregated across different dimensions of relationship well-being). Internalized homophobia is significantly and negatively associated with same-sex relationship well-being, whereas heterosexist discrimination and sexual orientation visibility management are not. Moreover, the effect size for internalized homophobia is significantly larger than those for heterosexist discrimination and sexual orientation visibility management. Sexual minority stress is significantly and negatively associated with same-sex relationship quality but not associated with closeness or stability. Sexual minority stress is significantly and negatively associated with relationship well-being among same-sex female couples but not among same-sex male couples. The current status of research approaches in this field is also summarized and discussed.