A Comparison of Life Satisfaction Trajectories Among Partnered Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Adults: 2020-2025

• In Event: Sociology of Sexualities Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Sexuality, Dating, and Partnerships

Abstract

Life satisfaction among the U.S. adult population is at a record low point over the past 15 years with 59% of Americans indicating they are not optimistic about their future life. However, these experiences are likely not shared equally across the population, as sexually minoritized populations traditionally report lower life satisfaction. Most prior work relies on cross-sectional assessments that provide a static lens on life satisfaction, and we move beyond these studies by showing how satisfaction changed over a critical time period (from 2020 to 2025). This time period is important because of the health crisis resulting from COVID-19 as well as the growing hostile political and legal climate. Drawing on minority stress theory, we rely on population-based longitudinal data, National Couples’ Health and Time Use Study to examine shifts in life satisfaction according to sexual identity over a five-year time span. Sankey diagrams allow us to examine the flows in reported life satisfaction. Preliminary results indicate that on average there were greater declines than increases in life satisfaction. Plurisexual individuals experienced the lowest levels of life satisfaction in both 2020 and in 2025. Overall, this shows dynamism in life satisfaction with a trend toward lower life satisfaction. We propose to consider expected life satisfaction and measures of thriving.

Authors

• Katherine Geneva Ripley, Bowling Green State University

• Wendy Diane Manning, Bowling Green State University

• Claire M. Kamp Dush, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities