5 - (IOP 25) Differences in Relationship Quality and Mental Health Problems by Partner Gender Among Bi+ Women: The Role of Minority Stress

Introduction: Bi+ (i.e., bisexual, pansexual, queer) women are at particularly high risk of mental health and relationship problems, even compared to other sexual minorities. However, it is unclear why some bi+ women experience worse mental health outcomes than others. A unique experience of this population is partnerships with people of different genders, which may lead to different experiences of minority stress. Such experiences are critical to examine given the impacts of minority stress on health and relationships. In this study, we assessed for differences in relationship quality and mental health by partner gender (Aim 1) and tested whether minority stressors explained those differences (Aim 2).


Method: 302 bi+ women (Mage = 28.8, 69.2% White) in romantic relationships reported on the gender of their current partner (cis male, cis female, or transgender/gender minority [TGM]), relationship quality (i.e., satisfaction), mental health problems (i.e., depression, anxiety), and minority stress (i.e., discrimination, identity concealment, disconnection from the LGBTQ+ community, internalized stigma). For Aim 1, we conducted separate one-way ANCOVAs assessing differences in each relationship quality and mental health by partner gender. For Aim 2, we conducted indirect effect analyses using a bootstrap estimation approach with PROCESS software.


Results: There were no significant differences in relationship quality or mental health by partner gender, but three minority stressors differed between groups. There were significant indirect effects of partner gender on relationship quality and mental health through minority stressor mechanisms: Having a female or a TGM partner predicted lower relationship quality and more mental health problems via higher discrimination; having a male partner predicted lower relationship quality via higher identity concealment and worse mental health problems via higher community disconnection.


Conclusion: Findings suggest bi+ women experience more discrimination when partnered with women and TGM people, but more identity concealment and disconnection from the LGBTQ+ community when partnered with cis men. Each of these stressors negatively impacted relationship quality/mental health. Findings suggest the potential value of considering partner gender in relationship and mental health interventions for bi+ women that target the specify minority stress pathways observed. This study highlights the importance of partner gender and its unique associated minority stressors in efforts to improve bi+ women’s relationships and mental health.