Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
23rd International Counseling and Guidance Congress, İstanbul, Türkiye, 14 - 17 Haziran 2022, ss.421-422
Investigating the Perceived Relationship Quality among
LGBTQ+ Individuals in Terms of Various Variables
within the Minority Stress Model
Aim: This study was based on the Minority Stress Model, and accordingly, the perceived
relationship quality of LGBTQ+ people was examined in terms of distal and proximal stress
factors and protective factors. According to the Minority Stress Model, distal stressors are
objective stressful events (prejudice and discrimination-based violence) based on individuals'
sexual minority identities, while proximal stressors are the subjective interpretations of
external stressful events (e.g., expectations of rejection, concealment, and internalized
homophobia/transphobia). Protective factors are variables that reduce or eliminate the
negative effects of the mentioned stress factors on mental health and are related to coping or
resilience. Accordingly, distal stress based on prejudice and discrimination and proximal
stress, which are subjective interpretations of these stress factors, are negatively related to
mental health, while protective factors such as social support are positively related to mental
health. In this context, distal and proximal gay-related stress, perceived social support, and
perceived relationship quality are the variables of the Minority Stress Model discussed in this
study. In addition, variables such as being involved in one (monoamory) or more than one
romantic relationship at the same time (polyamory), cohabitation, and relationship duration
were also included in the study as relational variables. When the studies on perceived
relationship quality are examined, it is noteworthy that these studies are predominantly based
on heterosexual relationships. To the knowledge of the researchers, how the factors specific to
LGBTQ+ people, such as distal and proximal gay-related stress, are associated with perceived
relationship quality is limited in the literature, while it has also not been studied in the
national literature yet. In this context, the aim of this study is to explore the perceived
relationship quality of LGBTQ+ people based on the relational variables and the Minority
Stress Model framework.
Method: The study sample consisted of 121 participants who are at least 18 years old, define
themselves as LGBTQ+, have been in a relationship for at least three months, and live in
Turkey. Participants were reached online through purposive sampling. The data collection
tools of this study are Demographic Form, Measures of Gay-Related Stress, Multidimensional
Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Perceived Relationship Quality Scale.
Findings: In order to test the research question, Pearson correlation and Mann-Whitney U
analyses were run via SPSS 24 software. The findings showed that the perceived relationship
quality was significantly lower in people who were in more than one romantic relationship at
the same time and that it was negatively correlated with proximal gay-related stress. In
addition, the findings depicted that perceived relationship quality has a positive and
significant relationship with perceived social support from a friend and perceived social
support from a significant other. On the other hand, perceived relationship quality
demonstrated no significant relationship with cohabitation, duration of the relationship, distal
gay-related stress, and perceived social support from the family.
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Conclusion: This research is one of the few studies in the literature that examines the
perceived relationship quality by taking into account the factors specific to LGBTQ+ people,
such as discrimination, stigma, and homosexuality-related internal stress, as well as the
relational variables and perceived social support. To the knowledge of the researchers, it is
also the first study in this scope in the national literature. The relationship between the
perceived relationship quality of LGBTQ+ adults living in Turkey, monoamory or polyamory,
proximal gay-related stress, perceived social support from friends, and perceived social
support from a significant other is discussed within the framework of minority stress model
literature, highlighting the roles of psychological counselors such as cultural sensitivity and
advocacy.
Keywords: perceived relationship quality, minority stress model, gay-related stress,
perceived social support, LGBTQ+