Abstract
Searching online for health information plays a vital role in the decision-making process to seek mental healthcare for relationship and sexual issues, especially among people with marginalized identities. The landscape of intimate arrangements in the U.S. is rapidly changing, yet it is unclear whether diverse intimate relationships are discussed in popular relationship-focused mental health resources. In the present research, we sought to understand how six diverse intimate relationships were represented in a set of online mental health resources focused on relationship and sexuality issues. We conducted a content analysis of 23 mental health articles; articles were coded for surface-level (1) and complex (2 through 5) representation: (1) the frequency at which six diverse relationship types were mentioned, (2) awareness of stigma (prejudicial experiences based on relationship type), (3) unique situations (experiences that are specific to a relationship type), (4) clinical recommendations (suggestions made for a specific relationship type) and (5) inclusive language. Overall, the frequency at which relationships were mentioned (surface-level representation) greatly varied: monogamous relationships (82.61%), singles (39.13%), blended families/stepfamilies (26.09%), same-sex/queer relationships (21.74%), multi-racial/cultural relationships (21.74%), and consensually non-monogamous relationships (0%). Complex representations, including stigma, unique situations, and recommendations for each diverse relationship type were infrequently mentioned (< 14% and, in many cases, never mentioned). These results illustrate that relationships other than monogamy were infrequently mentioned and, if mentioned, content related to diverse relationships lacked relevant and inclusive details, including clinical recommendations.
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Data Availability
Survey data from the present study is available upon request. The present study utilized a content analysis method to code freely available online sexuality and relationship mental health resources; resources can be found here: https://www.aamft.org/Consumer_Updates/Consumer_Updates.aspx.
Notes
The titles of the 23 mental health resource articles were: Adoption, Domestic Violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Managing Conflict During Divorce, Marital Distress, Marriage Preparation, Online Infidelity, Sexual Health, Caregiving for Later Life Adults, Effect of Anger on Families, Financial Distress and the Family, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Grieving the Loss of A Child, Multiracial Families, Pregnancy and Delivery, Stepfamilies, Same-sex Parents and Their Children, Therapeutic Issues for Same-sex Couples, Gender Identity, Female Sexual Problems, Male Sexual Problems, Substance Abuse and Intimate Relationships.
All articles were accessed in 2020–2021 for the present study; the date(s) in which the articles were written is unknown; see: https://www.aamft.org/Consumer_Updates/Consumer_Updates.aspx.
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ACM and AR contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data analysis were performed by ACM, AR, and ND. The manuscript was written and edited by all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Ramos, A., Moors, A.C., Dours, N.O. et al. Surface and complex representation of diverse intimate relationships: insights from a content analysis of marriage and family therapy resources. Sexuality & Culture 26, 1510–1530 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09956-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09956-8