Session: The Role of Sexual identity, Race, and Income on Individual and Relationship Functioning
2 - (SYM 83) Individual and Relationship Functioning of Heterosexual Individuals Who Are in a Committed Romantic Relationship with a Bisexual+ Other: A Preliminary Comparison of Outcomes
Bisexual+ (bi+) individuals consistently report more relationship difficulties and worse mental and physical health outcomes than any other sexual orientation. Even when bisexuals are in healthy long-term relationships, they do not experience its benefits to the same degree as heterosexuals or gays/lesbians. Importantly, the majority of bi+ people in committed romantic relationships have heterosexual partners. In contrast to the wealth of literature about bi+ partners, little is known about (a) the unique experiences of heterosexual people who are partnered with bi+ people and (b) how those experiences may lead to different outcomes compared to heterosexual people who are partnered with other heterosexual people.
Accordingly, the current study examines differences in individual and relational functioning reported by heterosexual people who are in a committed relationship with (a) a bi+ person (n = 59) versus (b) another heterosexual person (n = 124). Participants (N = 244 couples) provided self-report data on their current relationship satisfaction and individual well-being (depression, anxiety, health behaviors) as part of a larger online study about couples and coping.
Linear regression analyses revealed that heterosexual people with bi+ partners, compared to heterosexual people with heterosexual partners, report significantly worse relationship satisfaction and more depressive symptoms. Anxiety symptoms did not differ among groups. Cognitive-behavioral and ecological theories about couple functioning and bi+ minority stress bolster these findings. Heterosexual partners of bi+ people may experience distressing emotions and/or cognitions in response to their partner’s discrimination experiences. They may also develop beliefs about their bi+ partner based on stereotypes that are (or may become) distressing over time. The degree to which partners believe in bi-negative attitudes may affect their perceptions of their bi+ partner (e.g., worry about partner being unfaithful), their relationship (e.g., stability), and themselves as individuals (e.g., beliefs about not being enough). These can lead to conflicts between partners, subsequently affecting couple functioning, and discouragement related to these cognitions might contribute to depression. Further analyses will explore additional outcomes for heterosexual individuals who are in a committed romantic relationship with a bisexual+ other. Implications for future research and clinical intervention with bi+ and heterosexual couples will be discussed.