A study explored how the level of supportiveness in same-sex partnerships affects mental health outcomes among lesbian, bisexual, and queer-identified women. Researchers recruited participants from online dating apps to participate in a survey about their relationship experiences. Participants reported their scores on measures of psychological resilience and life satisfaction. They also provided details on their romantic partners' levels of emotional support. Data revealed that higher levels of emotional support predicted greater resilience and life satisfaction for all participants. The findings have implications for understanding how relationships can promote wellbeing among queer people.
The study used an online survey to collect data on the relationship experiences of 208 self-identified LGBTQ+ individuals who identified as women, nonbinary, or genderqueer. Participants were between 18 and 65 years old and had been in a current or previous romantic relationship within the last year. They responded to questions about their partners' perceived levels of emotional support and their own levels of resilience and life satisfaction.
Researchers calculated the correlation coefficient between emotional support and resilience, finding a positive association between them. Higher scores on the emotional support measure predicted greater resilience, indicating that when partners offer more emotional support, their partners feel better equipped to deal with challenges and stressors. This result was statistically significant at the p <.005 level.
A moderated mediation analysis indicated that this effect was particularly pronounced for individuals with lower baseline levels of resilience.
Researchers found a significant correlation between emotional support and life satisfaction, suggesting that the degree to which partners are emotionally available is related to the quality of life they experience together. Once again, the strength of this relationship was greater for those with lower baseline levels of life satisfaction.
The results also revealed that emotional support was positively associated with both resilience and life satisfaction even after controlling for several factors known to influence mental health outcomes such as social support, depression symptoms, and trauma exposure. This suggests that emotional support may be an important factor beyond other aspects of social connection that contribute to wellbeing among queer women.
These findings highlight the importance of emotional support in maintaining psychological resilience and overall life satisfaction in same-sex relationships. The findings underscore the vital role that partners play in promoting each other's wellbeing and provide guidance for fostering strong and healthy relationships within the LGBTQ+ community.
How does a supportive romantic partner influence psychological resilience and life satisfaction for queer women?
For queer women, having a supportive romantic partner is crucial for maintaining psychological resilience and high levels of life satisfaction. When facing challenges, such as discrimination or social exclusion, having someone who provides comfort and security can help individuals cope with negative feelings and experiences better (Murphy et al. , 2017).