ADJUSTMENT TO RELATIONSHIP DISSOLUTION IN GAY, LESBIAN, AND HETEROSEXUAL PARTNERS

Twenty-six gay, 24 lesbian, and 49 heterosexual (19 male and 30 female ) individuals who were separated from their relationship partner for a bout 6 months provided reasons why their relationship ended and rated their current separation distress. Relative to partners in heterosexua l couples, those in gay or lesbian couples did not differ in reasons f or the separation or in level of separation distress. Aspects of relat ionship quality assessed shortly before the separation occurred did no t predict later separation distress. However, individuals who indicate d that problems with intimacy were the cause of the separation were un likely to be distressed by the separation, whereas individuals who ind icated that problems with communication were the cause of the separati on were likely to be distressed by the separation. Separation distress was positively related to the severity of neurotic symptoms reported when the relationship was intact and was negatively related to the ext ent to which the separation was expected. It is concluded that separat ion distress is more strongly related to personal strategies for copin g with stress than to relationship-related events leading to separatio n.