There is a considerable amount of research investigating the challenges faced by individuals who identify as bisexual in romantic relationships, such as experiencing biphobia from both heteronormative and homonormative groups (Kirkpatrick & Sproston, 2018; Ritchie et al., 2016), experiencing increased relationship instability compared to monosexual peers (Murphy et al., 2020; Norton et al., 2019), facing difficulties coming out to friends and family members (Norton et al., 2019), and having difficulty finding suitable partners due to stigmatization (Clarke et al., 2018).
Relatively little research has explored how trust develops between bisexuals and their monosexual partners over time. The purpose of this article is to explore how relational dynamics evolve over time when one partner identifies as bisexual while another does not, specifically focusing on how trust develops or fails to develop between these individuals.
The current study utilized an online survey with a sample of n 175 participants who identified as either bisexual (n 34) or monosexual (n 141). Participants completed a series of questions about their sexual identity, age, gender, race/ethnicity, religion, education level, relationship status, relationship length, number of previous sexual partners, and relationship type (i.e., married, cohabiting, dating). They also completed the Relationship Trust Inventory (RTI; McAuliffe & Gove, 2008) to assess their perceptions of interpersonal trust in their primary romantic relationship at Time 1 (T1). At T1, participants reported that their primary romantic relationship was either heterosexual or homosexual, but there were no bisexual relationships included in the analysis. Participants then completed the RTI again six months later (T2) after completing additional questions regarding the impact of disclosure and coming out on trust in the relationship.
Analyses revealed that bisexuals perceived less trust overall at T1 than their monosexual counterparts did, t(169) -2.07, p.04, d -.18, and this effect remained significant when controlling for demographic variables, b.27, SE.11, t(168) 2.49, p.01. Bisexuals also reported significantly greater increases in trust between T1 and T2 than monosexuals, b.55, SE.13, t(167) 4.16, p<.001. Interestingly, bisexuals who had come out prior to entering their current romantic relationship reported more trust at T1 than those who had not, b.27, SE.13, t(169) 2.07, p.04, whereas monosexuals' sexual orientation status at the beginning of the relationship did not moderate changes in trust over time. In terms of specific trust items, monosexuals reported higher levels of trust related to honesty and dependability, while bisexuals reported greater trust with regard to self-disclosure.
The findings suggest that bisexuals may face unique challenges when it comes to developing a sense of trust in their primary romantic relationships due to internalized stigma, external biphobia, and societal norms about monogamy and fidelity (Fredriksen et al., 2020; Hertzog & Sell, 2016). The fact that coming out prior to entering a relationship was associated with greater initial perceived trust suggests that disclosing one's identity is an important factor in the development of trust.
The lack of effect of sexual orientation on subsequent changes in trust for monosexuals highlights the importance of other factors such as communication, conflict resolution, and shared values in maintaining trust over time. Future research should explore how these dynamics play out across different types of relationships (e.g., same-sex vs. opposite-sex) and within LGBTQ+ individuals' larger social networks.
What are the relational dynamics of trust in bisexual–monosexual partnerships, and how do they evolve over time?
Trust is an important component of any relationship and it is no different for relationships between bisexuals and monosexuals (i. e. , those who identify as exclusively straight or gay). In these partnerships, trust can be impacted by various factors such as sexual orientation identity, communication patterns, jealousy, and societal stigma. Over time, trust may change due to new experiences, shifts in power dynamics, and external influences on the relationship.