Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of Civil Marriage Recognition for Long-Term Same-Sex Couples

  • Published:
Sexuality Research and Social Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many same-sex couples had already established long-term relationships prior to the availability of civil marriage rights in the USA. The impact and possible benefits of marriage and marriage recognition for long-term couples was tested using data from a sample of couple members: 307 in a civil marriage and 50 with no legal relationship status. The reported study was conducted prior to marriage recognition in all US states and tests the associations of marital status and living in a state that recognized civil marriages of same-sex couples with self-reports of positive and negative LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) identity, social support, and daily discrimination. Dyadic regression analyses revealed that participants in a civil marriage reported higher levels of LGB identity centrality and support from partner. Residing in a state that recognized civil marriage was associated with lower levels of LGB identity concealment, a less difficult process accepting one’s LGB identity, and less vigilance and isolation. Results are discussed in terms of the benefits of long-term relationships and the impact of socio-historical context and marriage policy on same-sex relationships.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balsam, K. F., Beadnell, B., & Molina, Y. (2013). The Daily Heterosexist Experiences Questionnaire: measuring minority stress among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 46, 3–25.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Denney, J. T., Gorman, B. K., & Barrera, C. B. (2013). Families, resources, and adult health: where do sexual minorities fit? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 54, 46–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fingerhut, A. W., & Maisel, N. C. (2010). Relationship formalization and individual and relationship well-being among same-sex couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 956–969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, D. M., & LeBlanc, A. J. (2014). Nonevent stress contributes to mental health disparities based on sexual orientation: evidence from a personal projects analysis. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 84, 557–566.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gates, G. J. (2015). Demographics of married and unmarried same-sex couples: analyses of the 2013 American community survey. Los Angeles, CA: Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. Retrieved on November 9, 2015 from: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Demographics-Same-Sex-Couples-ACS2013-March-2015.pdf

  • Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2014). Structural stigma and the health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23, 127–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatzenbuehler, M. L., McLaughlin, K., Keyes, K., & Hasin, D. (2010). The impact of institutional discrimination on psychiatric disorders in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: a prospective study. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 452–459.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hatzenbuehler, M. L., O’Cleirigh, C., Grasso, C., Mayer, K., Safren, S., & Bradford, J. (2012). Effect of same-sex marriage laws on health care use and expenditures in sexual minority men: a quasi-natural experiment. American Journal of Public Health, 102, 285–291.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Herdt, G., & Kertzner, R. (2006). I do, but I can’t: the impact of marriage denial on the mental health and sexual citizenship of lesbians and gay men in the United States. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 3, 33–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herek, G. M. (2006). Legal recognition of same-sex relationships in the United States: a social science perspective. American Psychologist, 61, 607–621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herek, G. M. (2015). Beyond “homophobia”: Thinking more clearly about stigma, prejudice, and sexual orientation. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85(5 Suppl), S29–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herek, G. M., Gillis, J. R., & Cogan, J. C. (2009). Internalized stigma among sexual minority adults: insights from a social psychological perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 32–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Birmingham, W., & Jones, B. Q. (2008). Is there something unique about marriage? The relative impact of marital status, relationship quality, and network social support on ambulatory blood pressure and mental health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 35, 239–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hull, K. E. (2006). Same-sex marriage: the cultural politics of love and law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, D. A. (1996). Models of nonindependence in dyadic research. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 13, 279–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, D. A., & Judd, C. M. (1986). Consequences of violating the independence assumption in analysis of variance. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 422–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Newton, T. L. (2001). Marriage and health: his and hers. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 472–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lannutti, P. J. (2011). Security, recognition, and misgivings: exploring older same-sex couples’ experiences of legally recognized same-sex marriage. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 64–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lannutti, P. J. (2014). Experiencing same-sex marriage: individuals, couples and social networks. New York: Peter Lang.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, H., Reczek, C., & Brown, D. (2013). Same-sex cohabitors and health: the role of race-ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 54, 25–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674–697.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, J. J., & Fassinger, R. E. (2000). Measuring dimensions of lesbian and gay male experience. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 33, 66–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, J. J., & Kendra, M. S. (2011). Revision and extension of a multidimensional measure of sexual minority identity: the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 234–245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porche, M. V., & Purvin, D. M. (2008). “Never in our lifetime”: legal marriage for same-sex couples in long-term relationships. Family Relations, 57, 144–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Progress Illinois (2015). Over 6,500 same-sex couples married in Cook County last year. Retrieved on November 12, 2015 from: http://www.progressillinois.com/news/content/2015/02/23/over-6500-same-sex-couples-married-cook-county-last-year.

  • Radio France International (2014). France celebrates 7,000 gay marriages since law passed in April 2013. Retrieved on November 12, 2015 from: http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20140114-france-celebrates-7000-gay-marriages-law-passed-april-2013.

  • Raudenbush, S. W., & Bryk, A. S. (2002). Hierarchical linear models. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reczek, C., Elliott, S., & Umberson, D. (2009). Commitment without marriage: union formation among long-term same-sex couples. Journal of Family Issues, 30, 738–756.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Riggle, E. D. B., Rostosky, S. S., & Horne, S. G. (2010a). Does it matter where you live? State non-discrimination laws and the perceptions of LGB residents. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 7, 168–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riggle, E. D. B., Rostosky, S. S., & Horne, S. G. (2010b). Psychological distress, well-being, and legal recognition in same-sex couple relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 82–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riggle, E. D. B., Mohr, J. J., Rostosky, S. S., Fingerhut, A. W., & Balsam, K. F. (2014). A multifactor Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Positive Identity Measure (LGB-PIM). Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1, 398–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rostosky, S. S., Riggle, E. D. B., Dudley, M. G., & Comer Wright, M. L. (2006). Relational commitment: a qualitative analysis of same-sex couples’ conversations. Journal of Homosexuality, 51, 199–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rostosky, S. S., Riggle, E. D. B., Rothblum, E. D., & Balsam, K. F. (2016). Same-sex couples’ decisions and experiences of marriage in the context of minority stress: interviews from a longitudinal, population-based study. Journal of Homosexuality. 10.1080/00918369.2016.1191232.

  • Rothblum, E. D., Balsam, K. F., & Solomon, S. E. (2008). Comparison of same-sex couples who were married in Massachusetts, had domestic partnerships in California, or had civil unions in Vermont. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 48–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snijders, T. A. B., & Bosker, R. J. (2012). Multilevel analysis: an introduction to basic and advanced multilevel modeling (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Employment and Social Development Canada (2015). Family life – marriage. Retrieved on November 12, 2015 from: http://well-being.esdc.gc.ca/misme-iowb/.3nd.3c.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=78.

  • Solomon, S. E., Rothblum, E. D., & Balsam, K. F. (2004). Pioneers in partnership: lesbian and gay male couples in civil unions compared with those not in civil unions, and heterosexual married siblings. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 275–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, S. E., Rothblum, E. D., & Balsam, K. F. (2005). Money, housework, sex, and conflict: Same-sex couples in civil unions, those not in civil unions, and heterosexual married siblings. Sex Roles, 52, 561–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waite, L. J., & Gallagher, M. (2000). The case for marriage: why married people are happier, healthier, and better off financially. New York: Broadway Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wienke, C., & Hill, G. J. (2009). Does the “marriage benefit” extend to partners in gay and lesbian relationships? Journal of Family Issues, 30, 259–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wight, R. G., LeBlanc, A. J., & Badgett, M. V. L. (2013). Same-sex legal marriage and psychological well-being: findings from the California Health Interview Survey. American Journal of Public Health, 103, 339–346.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52, 30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, G. D., Powell, S. S., Farley, G. K., Werkman, S., & Berkoff, K. A. (1990). Psychometric characteristics of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 55, 610–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R01HD069370 (Kimberly F. Balsam, PI). We thank Jennifer Clark, project coordinator, and Ted Beauchaine, consultant, for their contributions to this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, University of Kentucky, 1615 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY, USA

    Ellen D. B. Riggle

  2. Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Robert E. Wickham & Kimberly F. Balsam

  3. Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, 231 Dickey Hall, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Sharon S. Rostosky

  4. Department of Women’s Studies, San Diego State University, and Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Mail Code 6030, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA

    Esther D. Rothblum

Authors
  1. Ellen D. B. Riggle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert E. Wickham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sharon S. Rostosky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Esther D. Rothblum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kimberly F. Balsam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ellen D. B. Riggle.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R01HD069370 (K. F. Balsam, PI).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Riggle, E.D.B., Wickham, R.E., Rostosky, S.S. et al. Impact of Civil Marriage Recognition for Long-Term Same-Sex Couples. Sex Res Soc Policy 14, 223–232 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-016-0243-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-016-0243-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation