The Nominal Wife: Heterosexual Women’s Experiences and Well-being in Mixed-Orientation Marriage in China

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Abstract

Mixed-orientation marriage (MOM) refers to a marital union whereby one spouse is heterosexual whereas the other is not. Previous research on heterosexual women’s experiences and well-being within mixed-orientation marriages (MOMs) often ignores the variations within this group of women. This exploratory study focuses on women currently in MOMs and women who divorced their gay/bisexual husband to explain how divorce impacts psychological health (i.e., depression, life satisfaction, and loneliness). We also examined the relative importance of marital relationships (i.e., marital satisfaction, marital conflict, and marital commitment) and systems of social support in shaping well-being of women currently in MOMs. Results showed that women who are divorced had better mental health outcomes than those who are currently in MOMs. Also, for women who are currently in MOMs, marital satisfaction significantly contributed to their life satisfaction and depression, while friends’ social support significantly shapes their feelings of loneliness.

Authors

• Langou Lian, University of California Irvine

• Jianmin Shao, Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine