Minority Stress A Risk Factor For LGBTQI Relationships

Around 74% of people feel so stressed that they feel overwhelmed or unable to cope – as reported by MentalHealth.org. Those belonging to minorities – including members of the LGBTQI community – face additional stressors, which in turn can have an effect on romantic relationships. These stressors, say Meyer and colleagues (2003) are as follows: internalised homonegativity, concealment, and stigma consciousness. Stigma, for instance, has been linked to a decrease in commitment, sexual communication, and overall satisfaction with one’s relationship. Minority stress compounds the stress that comes from both external factors and issues within the relationship. Those who are supportive, however, can foster greater relationship satisfaction and reduce the effect that minority stress can have on the way they interact with their partner.

The Importance Of Dyadic Coping 

‘Dyadic coping’ is a term coined in the 1990s by Bodenmann and Cina. The term essentially covers three factors that arise when one partner experiences stress: the first is the stress signals sent by the stressed-out partner. The second is the perception of these signs by the other partner, and the third is the reaction of the non-stressed partner to the stressed one. Dyadic coping can be negative (offensive, disrespectful or angry), ambivalent, or positive. Research has shown that positive dyadic coping (in which couples provide support to each other during stressful times) promotes better relationship quality and development, and lowers the risk of a breakup or divorce. Couples can learn the concept of dyadic coping via training programmes that aim to improve individual stress coping abilities, improve the couple’s ability to cope together, and help the couple become more aware of essential concepts such as fairness and respect. They also work on improving communication skills and learning how to solve problems in lieu of blaming or shaming partners.

Support Comes In Many Forms

In couples training, each member of the couple not only learns general stress coping techniques and conflict resolution skills, but also learns how to give their partner the type of support they need. As espoused in Love Languages theory, individuals tend to have very different ideas of how love should be expressed. For some, it involves quality time; for others it comprises words of affirmation. Yet others enjoy giving their partner stress-relieving presents. These can range from massagers and aromatherapy diffusers to adrenalin-charged adventure tours – anything that fits one partner’s idea of relaxation and entertainment. The key is to match a couple’s idea of support with what they receive during times in which life can get more stressful than usual. Part of couples’ training, then, involves learning to listen to your partner and working towards expressing love in a way they understand and desire.

Dynamic Coping In The LGBTQI Community

A November, 2020 study by Chao Song and colleagues looked at the effect of stress on members of the LGBTQI community. It found that minority stress has a significant impact on relationship satisfaction, and predicts the extent to which stress in one area of life is likely to affect another life domain. The study also showed that people who are experiencing high levels of minority stress are likely to feel higher levels of stress within their relationship as well, and this stress is likely to spill over to their partner. Those who are faced with stigmatising, stressful environments pay a high emotional and psychological price, which can include conflict, mistrust, and a lack of desired intimacy with their partner. Dyadic coping, however, has a buffering effect on minority stress; in fact, when present, it can actually boost resilience and shelter couples against stigma.

Minority couples experiencing stress should be aware of the link between minority stress and couple satisfaction. Those who are having difficulty coping can consider couples training as a way to learn useful dyadic coping skills. These include learning how to listen to their partner, improving conflict resolution skills, and giving equity and fairness their due importance.