(PS4-16) Bi+ Mental Health and Relationship Satisfaction in Relation to Partner Sexual Orientation and Gender Uniformity

Although members of the bi+ (e.g., bisexual, pansexual, queer) community make up more than half of all LGBTQIA+ individuals in the U.S., the bi+ experience is distinct from that of their lesbian and gay counterparts. Negative attitudes concerning bisexuality are found both outside of and within the LGBTQIA+ community, putting bi+ individuals at increased risk for mental health concerns compared to their monosexual (e.g., heterosexual, lesbian, gay) peers. This dual discrimination may be particularly pronounced in the context of romantic relationships, where common bi-negative stereotypes (e.g., infidelity) may affect relationship satisfaction. As such, our primary aim was to examine correlates of individual mental health (i.e., stress, depression, anxiety) and relational health (i.e., relationship satisfaction) of bi+ individuals in romantic relationships in two cross-sectional survey studies (sample 1 n = 282; sample 2 n = 189). Given (1) the binegativity often expressed by monosexual populations, and (2) evidence noting particularly negative experiences of bi+ individuals in relationships with a heterosexual partner (often indicating a mixed-gender relationship), we examined whether partner sexual orientation and gender uniformity (i.e., same-or-similar gender relationships vs. mixed-gender relationships) were associated with individual and relational outcomes. We predicted that individuals with bi+ partners would report more positive outcomes than those with monosexual partners, and those in a mixed-gender relationship would report more negative outcomes than those in a same-or-similar gender relationship. In sample two only, bi+ participants with bi+ partners reported higher relationship satisfaction (t(167) = 3.13, p = .002, d = 0.49), indicating that sharing a bi+ identity with their partner was associated with higher relational health. Partner gender uniformity was not associated with individual or relational variables. A second, exploratory aim was to examine associations between bi+ identity factors and mental and relational health, given that past research has noted the importance of identity-related factors on these variables. Greater identity acceptance concerns were associated with higher stress, anxiety, and depression across both samples. In sample 1, greater authenticity and felt sense of intimacy were associated with higher relationship satisfaction. Identity centrality was associated with higher anxiety in sample 2. Overall, findings tentatively suggest that sharing a bi+ identity with one’s partner may be a factor in relationship satisfaction, and that identity variables may also play a role in relationship satisfaction, as well as individual mental health. Future research should examine potential mechanisms by which partner sexual orientation and one’s own bi+ identity affect relational and individual outcomes, particularly in longitudinal studies where temporal associations can be examined.