Prospective Effects of Internalized Stigma on Same-Sex Relationship Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms and Couple Conflict

Objective: Same-sex couples face unique minority stressors that affect relationship functioning, yet remarkably little research has examined the mechanisms by which individual and partner experiences of internalized stigma affect relationships over time. Using actor-partner interdependence models, the present study examined the effects of internalized stigma on relationship satisfaction, and whether depressive symptoms and couple conflict mediated these effects. Hypotheses were tested cross-sectionally and prospectively across a 5-year period. Method: Participants were 330 same-sex couples (n = 660 individuals; M-age = 39.5 years, SD = 10.8) who were assessed annually over a 5-year period. There were 109 male couples, 216 female couples, and five couples in which one partner did not identify with these labels. Results: There was a significant actor effect of internalized stigma on lower relationship satisfaction cross-sectionally and prospectively, and significant indirect actor-actor and actor-partner effects of internalized stigma on satisfaction via couple conflict cross-sectionally and prospectively. Finally, there was a cross-sectional indirect actor-actor effect of internalized stigma on relationship satisfaction via depressive symptoms, though depressive symptoms did not mediate any effects over time. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering both individual and interpersonal mediators of minority stress, particularly when investigating partner effects of minority stress on relationship satisfaction. Implications for research and clinical practice with same-sex couples are discussed. What is the public health significance of this article? This research shows that internalized stigma negatively affects relationship satisfaction among same-sex couples. Internalized stigma may impact an individual's own relationship satisfaction and their partner's relationship satisfaction over time. These effects are, at least in part, due to greater couple conflict. The results of this research highlight the need for interventions to address the impact of internalized stigma on relationship functioning in same-sex couples.