Research says: Gay, lesbian and straight couples have same level of commitment and bliss in their relationships.

We are more alike than we are different. Results of two separate university studies show that same-sex relationships are similar to those of opposite-sex couples in many ways.

ScientificBlogging.com explains:

“The stereotype that couples in same-sex relationships are not as committed as their heterosexual counterparts and are therefore not as psychologically healthy is disputed by two studies featured in the January issue of Developmental Psychology.”

“The notion that committed same-sex relationships are “atypical, psychologically immature, or malevolent contexts of development was not supported by our findings,” said lead author Glenn I. Roisman, PhD. “Compared with married individuals, committed gay males and lesbians were not less satisfied with their relationships.”

And the studies found that lesbian couples worked together especially well during the “laboratory” tasks. Dr. Roisman says, “…evidence emerged the lesbian couples were especially effective at resolving conflict.”

ScientificBlogging.com explains the methods of study:

“Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign compared 30 committed gay male and 30 committed lesbian couples with 50 engaged heterosexual couples and 40 older married heterosexual couples, as well as with dating heterosexual couples. All the partners responded to a questionnaire that documented how positively they interacted with one another on a day to day basis. The couples were also observed during a laboratory task and were monitored for distress by skin conductance and heart rate.

In the second study, researchers from the University of Washington, San Diego State University and the University of Vermont wanted to examine how sexual orientation and legal status affected relationship quality. To do so, they followed 65 male and 138 female same-sex couples with civil unions, 23 male and 61 female same-sex couples not in civil unions and 55 heterosexual married couples over a three-year period. One member of each heterosexual couple was a sibling to a member of a civil union couple.”

Source: ScientificBlogging.com
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