Voorspellers van die verhoudingskwaliteit van gay mans

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The primary objectives of the present research were to predict the quality ofrelationships of gay male couples, as well as those of the members of the couples,on the basis of chosen variables. These chosen variables were taken along anecological framework, which took into account variables from a personal,psychological, interpersonal and social context. Five variables received widecoverage in the present research: The sexual behavioural status of the relationship,sex role self-concept, sex role behaviour, perceived social support from family andfriends, and passing. Partner-homogamy was also an important variable in thepresent research. This resulted in differences in the chosen variables within couplesbeing used to predict the quality of the relationships of gay male couples.A sample of 30 couples was obtained through advertisements in the local gaypress. The sample comprised mostly middle and high-class whites who had beeninvolved in well-functioning, long-lasting (:t 8 years) relationships and who had livedtogether. Each couple received by mail two identical sets of measuringinstruments - one for each member of the couple - to complete independently fromthe other. The measuring instruments, which were all self-reporting scales, werethe Biographical and Personal Questionnaire, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the BernSex Role Inventory, the Shared Decision Making Scale, the Perceived Social SupportScale, the Being Known to Distant Others Scale, the Being Known to SignificantOthers Scale, and the Desire to Pass Scale.Results were obtained through statistical analysis with both the couples (N = 30)and the partners (N = 60) as the unit of analysis. When the respective results areviewed together, the most important correlates of the quality of relationships werean increase in the length of the relationship, a female self-concept among bothpartners, the viewing of shared decision making within the relationship, and overtlymaintaining a gay lifestyle, together with partner-homogamy with regard to afemale self-concept, perceived social support from friends, and the level ofovertness concerning sexual preferences. Furthermore, it was important thatpsychological masculinity had to be vested in one member of the couple only.The most important predictors of the quality of well adjusted relationships were anincrease in the length of the relationship, a female self-concept among bothpartners, the viewing of shared decision making in the relationship, little perceivedsocial support from friends and family, and maintaining an overt gay lifestyle,together with the homogamy of partners towards perceived social support fromfriends, being known as gay to significant others, and the view of shared decisionmaking in the relationship respectively. Furthermore, it was important that one ofthe members had to have previous experience of gay relationships.The greatest limitation of the present research was the small sample which resultedin low statistical power. The research has, however, made a contribution byshedding light on the functioning of gay male couples within the South Africancontext.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University