Committed Same-Sex Couples More Satisfied With Their Partners than Married Heterosexual Couples

New Study by SDSU Professor Esther Rothblum also shows sexuality has minimal effect on many relationship levels.

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Gina Speciale
SDSU Marketing & Communications
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SAN DIEGO (Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008) — Committed same-sex couples are more satisfied with their partners as compared to married heterosexual couples, according to new research by San Diego State University.

Research by Esther Rothblum (above), SDSU professor of women's studies is the first study to follow same-sex couples in civil unions over time.

The study showed that same-sex couples reported greater relationship quality, compatibility, intimacy and lower levels of conflict than married couples. The research, published in the January issue of Developmental Psychology, is the first study to follow same-sex couples in civil unions over time.

“The reasons for this could be varied but when you have two women or two men in a couple, they have been socialized similarly and so they’re both from ‘Venus’ or both from ‘Mars,’ so to speak,” said Esther Rothblum, study co-author and professor in SDSU’s department of women’s studies.  “Because of this they may not have to negotiate the huge barriers that men and women do in terms of how they view conflict, provide emotional support or handle childrearing.”

Same-sex couples were also indistinguishable from heterosexual couples on many other relationship variables, such as status of their relationship, number of children, sexual behavior, frequency of contact with their parents with or without their partners, perceived social support and disclosure of their sexuality to family peers or work associates.

Over a three-year period, researchers surveyed same-sex couples who had civil unions in Vermont, same-sex couples not in civil unions and heterosexual married couples. Legalized status of a relationship did not seem to be an overriding factor for same-sex couples to stay together.

However, same-sex couples who were not in civil unions were more likely to have ended their relationships compared to those couples in same-sex civil unions or heterosexual marriages.

“This difference in how long couples stayed together cannot be attributed to the civil union itself,” said Rothblum.  “We expect more distinct differences to appear between types of couples as time goes on.”

As the first study to follow same-sex couples in civil unions over a period of time, researchers were allowed to monitor changes in the relationships and compare them with changes experienced by both same-sex couples not in civil unions and married heterosexual couples. All the couples were comparable with respect to length of relationship, race/ethnicity and age at the time of the study.

San Diego State University
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s  approximately 35,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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Editor's Note:
Read the full article published in APA's Developmental Psychology