(PS6-57) Unpacking the U-Haul: Exploring Relationship Tempo in Sexual Minority Women's Partnerships

Abstract Text:

Introduction: According to a well-known stereotype, female same-gender couples are assumed to become serious and move in together quickly (i.e., U-Haul syndrome). If true, this stereotype could have noteworthy implications for these couples’ relationship health and stability, given that a faster relationship tempo, especially moving in together quickly and without sufficient consideration, is associated with worse relationship outcomes (Stanley et al., 2006). Though this stereotype has rarely been tested, some qualitative data suggest that lesbian couples may form committed relationships at faster tempos (Rose & Zand, 2002; Gordon, 2006). However, these studies conflate partner gender (e.g., same-gender vs. different-gender) with sexual identity (e.g., lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual). To test this stereotype more rigorously, we explored differences in relationship tempo by partner gender in a sample comprised of bi+ (i.e., bisexual, pansexual, queer) women. Secondary analyses explored potential differences in relationship tempo of lesbians versus bi+ women partnered with cis women.

Method: 166 bi+ cisgender women in romantic relationships with cisgender men (n = 105), cisgender women (n = 35), or transgender/gender minority (TGM) partners (n = 26) completed 4 measures of relationship tempo: the length of time before getting serious, length of time before cohabiting, perceived relationship tempo, and level of intentionality in cohabiting. One-way ANCOVAs were used to test for differences in relationship tempo factors between participant groups, controlling for age and income. Secondary analyses included an additional comparator group of 50 lesbian cisgender women.

Results: Contrary to the U-Haul stereotype, bi+ women partnered with cis women (M = 5.16 months, SD = 3.99 months) took the same amount of time to get serious when compared to those partnered with cis men (p = .93) and TGM individuals (p = .13). Those partnered with cis men took the least amount of time (M = 4.39 months, SD = 9.94 months), significantly less than those with TGM partners (M = 10.42 months, SD = 13.76 months, p = .023). Also contrary to stereotypes, bi+ women partnered with cis women (M = 4.94, SD = 1.42) perceived a slower relationship tempo than those partnered with cis men (M = 4.16, SD = 1.43, p = .003) or TGM partners (M = 5.02, SD = 1.05, p = .005; F(2,166) = 8.55, p < .001). There were no differences

by partner gender in the amount of time couples spent together before cohabiting (F (2,71) = 0.31, p = .74) or in intentionality of cohabiting (F (2,71) = 0.37, p = .69). Further, no significant differences in any relationship tempo factor emerged between lesbian and bi+ women partnered with cis women.

Conclusion: Findings refute the U-Haul syndrome stereotype, suggesting that partner gender has little to no effect on the speed at which bi+ women become serious in their relationships and begin cohabiting. Further, lesbian women also did not differ from bi+ women in any aspect of their relationship tempo. Findings suggest a notable opposition this stereotype, with bi+ women partnered with cis men reporting some faster aspects of relationship tempo. This highlights the importance of empirically testing, versus assuming, the validity of stereotypes about sexual minorities.