“Should I Introduce You as My ‘Roommate’ or Boyfriend?” Examining Same-Sex Couples’ Coming Out Talk

• In Event: Sex, Dating, and Beyond: Perceptions and Messages Matter

Abstract

Same-sex relationships are still stigmatized. Although communication skills and being out are crucial coping mechanisms for same-sex couples, how partners talk about relationship disclosure with one another (i.e., coming out talk) remains unknown. This study explored the content of couples’ coming out talk, and investigated how couple members’ relative outness levels to those of their partners (i.e., relative outness) predicted coming out talk, which in turn was associated with relationship satisfaction. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from 202 participants in a same-sex relationship. The content analysis identified five themes of coming out talk, including (a) disclosure attitudes (mutually positive, mutually negative, and discordant attitudes), (b) disclosure conducts (daily behaviors, initial disclosure actions), (c) disclosure outcomes, (d) disclosure targets, and (e) disclosure timing. Path analyses revealed a positive indirect effect from relative outness to relationship satisfaction through coming out talk. The results have implications for studying and improving same-sex relationships.

Authors

• Yachao Li, The U of Georgia

• Jennifer A. Samp, U of Georgia