Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-669899f699-swprf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-25T07:28:41.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

14 - Future Directions on the Study of Sexual Minority and Gender Diverse Individuals

from Part II - Looking toward the Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2025

By
Yachao Li  and
Sarah W. Whitton
Edited by
Ashley K. Randall  and
Pamela J. Lannutti
Ashley K. Randall
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
Pamela J. Lannutti
Affiliation:
Widener University, Pennsylvania
Get access

Summary

This chapter outlines future research directions to advance understanding of sexual minority and gender diverse (SMGD) individuals and their relationships by advocating for the examination of cultural and legal contexts that shape SMGD experiences across nations. Additionally, this chapter argues that future research should address minority stress processes and resilience factors, with attention to couple-level outcomes and mechanisms connecting stigma to health and incorporate intersectionality to elucidate how multiple marginalized identities interact. Methodological considerations for future research are also presented. Lastly, this chapter discusses translational priorities including community outreach, tailored interventions and programs, legal advocacy utilizing research evidence, educational initiatives, and technology-enabled solutions tailored for SMGD individuals. This chapter concludes with an integrated perspective on open questions, methods, and real-world applications to guide the next phase of research and practice aimed at promoting justice and well-being for SMGD individuals globally.

Keywords

Sexual minoritygender diverseresearch methodsfuture directions
Type
Chapter
Information
Experiences of Sexual Minority and Gender Diverse Individuals in Romantic Relationships
Heeding a Global Call
 , pp. 264 - 287
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Anderssen, N., Amlie, C., & Ytterøy, E. A. (2002). Outcomes for children with lesbian or gay parents. A review of studies from 1978 to 2000. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 43(4), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9450.00302CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Angrosino, M. V. (2016). Naturalistic Observation. Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Asakura, K. (2016). Extraordinary acts to “show up”: Conceptualizing resilience of LGBTQ youth. Youth & Society, 51(2), 268–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X16671430CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baiocco, R., Scandurra, C., Rosati, F., Pistella, J., Ioverno, S., Bochicchio, V., et al. (2023). Minority stress, resilience, and health in Italian and Taiwanese LGB+ people: A cross-cultural comparison. Current Psychology, 42(1), 104–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144–021-01387-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birkett, M., Newcomb, M. E., & Mustanski, B. (2015). Does it get better? A longitudinal analysis of psychological distress and victimization in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(3), 280–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.10.275CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolger, N., & Laurenceau, J.-P. (2013). Intensive Longitudinal Methods: An Introduction to Diary and Experience Sampling Research. Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Bowleg, L. (2008). When black + lesbian + woman ≠ black lesbian woman: The methodological challenges of qualitative and quantitative intersectionality research. Sex Roles, 59(5), 312–325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199–008-9400-zCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buzzella, B. A., Whitton, S. W., & Tompson, M. C. (2012). A preliminary evaluation of a relationship education program for male same-sex couples. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1(4), 306–322. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030380CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cao, H., Zhou, N., Fine, M., Liang, Y., Li, J., & Mills-Koonce, W. R. (2017). Sexual minority stress and same-sex relationship well-being: A meta-analysis of research prior to the U.S. nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(5), 1258–1277. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12415CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caruana, E. J., Roman, M., Hernández-Sánchez, J., & Solli, P. (2015). Longitudinal studies. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 7(11), E537–E540. https://jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/5822Google ScholarPubMed
Cheah, W. H., & Singaravelu, H. (2017). The coming-out process of gay and lesbian individuals from Islamic Malaysia: Communication strategies and motivations. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 46(5), 401–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2017.1362460CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collaço, N., Wagland, R., Alexis, O., Gavin, A., Glaser, A., & Watson, E. K. (2021). Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative dyadic data in health research. Qualitative Health Research, 31(8), 1555–1564. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323211011599CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Costa, P. A., & Shenkman, G. (2020). LGBTQ-parent families in non-western contexts. In Goldberg, A. E., & Allen, K. R. (eds.), LGBTQ-Parent Families: Innovations in Research and Implications for Practice (pp. 319–336). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35610-1_20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241–1299. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229039CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research. Sage.Google Scholar
Doyle, D. M., & Molix, L. (2015). Social stigma and sexual minorities’ romantic relationship functioning: A meta-analytic review. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(10), 1363–1381. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167215594592CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dyar, C., Sarno, E. L., Newcomb, M. E., & Whitton, S. W. (2020). Longitudinal associations between minority stress, internalizing symptoms, and substance use among sexual and gender minority individuals assigned female at birth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(5), 389–401. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000487CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feinstein, B. A., McConnell, E., Dyar, C., Mustanski, B., & Newcomb, M. E. (2018). Minority stress and relationship functioning among young male same-sex couples: An examination of actor-partner interdependence models. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(5), 416–426. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000296CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Friedman, S. L., & Chen, C.-J. (2023). Same-sex marriage legalization and the stigmas of LGBT co-parenting in Taiwan. Law & Social Inquiry, 48(2), 660–688. https://doi.org/10.1017/lsi.2022.32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graupner, H. (2021). Same-gender parenting and the best interests of the child: The European perspective with the example of Austria. National Taiwan University Law Review, 16(2), 141–159. https://doi.org/10.53106/181263242021121602002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guillemin, F., Bombardier, C., & Beaton, D. (1993). Cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality of life measures: Literature review and proposed guidelines. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 46(12), 1417–1432. https://doi.org/10.1016/0895-4356(93)90142-nCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gunthert, K. C., & Wenze, S. J. (2012). Daily diary methods. In Mehl, M. R., & Conner, T. S. (eds.), Handbook of Research Methods for Studying Daily Life. (pp. 144–159). Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Haas, S. M., & Lannutti, P. J. (2021). The impact of minority stress and social support on positive relationship functioning in same-sex relationships. Health Communication, 36(3), 315–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2019.1687130CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haas, S. M., & Lannutti, P. J. (2022). Relationship maintenance behaviors, resilience, and relational quality in romantic relationships of LGBTQ+ people. Couple and Family Psychology, 11(2), 117–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000186CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2016). Structural stigma: Research evidence and implications for psychological science. The American Psychologist, 71(8), 742–751. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000068CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huang, M. W., & Lu, W. (2013). Male-male sexual bonding and male friendship in late imperial China. Journal of the History of Sexuality, 22(2), 312–331. https://doi.org/10.7560/JHS22206CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, Y.-T., Ma, Y. T., Craig, S. L., Wong, D. F. K., & Forth, M. W. (2020). How intersectional are mental health interventions for sexual minority people? A systematic review. LGBT Health, 7(5), 220–236. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2019.0328CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kar, A., Das, N., Broadway-Horner, M., & Kumar, P. (2023). Intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships: Are we aware of the implications? Journal of Psychosexual Health, 5(1), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318221134268CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, D. A., Kashy, D. A., & Cook, W. L. (2006). Dyadic Data Analysis. Guilford Publications.Google Scholar
Kousteni, I., & Anagnostopoulos, F. (2020). Same-sex couples’ psychological interventions: A systematic review. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 19(2), 136–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2019.1667937CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lannutti, P. J. (2005). For better or worse: Exploring the meanings of same-sex marriage within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22(1), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407505049319CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lannutti, P. J. (2008). Attractions and obstacles while considering legally recognized same-sex marriage. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 4(2), 245–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504280802096914CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lannutti, P. J. (2018). GLBTQ people who decided to marry after the 2016 U.S. election: Reasons for and meanings of marriage. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 14(1–2), 85–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2017.1420846CrossRefGoogle Scholar
LeBlanc, A. J., Frost, D. M., & Wight, R. G. (2015). Minority stress and stress proliferation among same-sex and other marginalized couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(1), 40–59. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12160CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maneesriwongul, W., & Dixon, J. K. (2004). Instrument translation process: A methods review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 48(2), 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03185.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manning, J., & Kunkel, A. (2015). Qualitative approaches to dyadic data analyses in family communication research: An invited essay. Journal of Family Communication, 15(3), 185–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2015.1043434CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, B. G., Kors, S., & Macfie, J. (2017). No differences? Meta-analytic comparisons of psychological adjustment in children of gay fathers and heterosexual parents. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4(1), 14–22. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000203CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minkler, M., & Wallerstein, N. (2011). Community-based Participatory Research for Health: From Process to Outcomes. John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Newcomb, M. E., Macapagal, K. R., Feinstein, B. A., Bettin, E., Swann, G., & Whitton, S. W. (2017). Integrating HIV prevention and relationship education for young same-sex male couples: A pilot trial of the 2gether intervention. AIDS and Behavior, 21(8), 2464–2478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461–017-1674-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newcomb, M. E., Sarno, E. L., Bettin, E., Carey, J., Ciolino, J. D., Hill, R., et al. (2020). Relationship education and HIV prevention for young male couples administered online via videoconference: Protocol for a national randomized controlled trial of 2gether. JMIR Research Protocols, 9(1), e15883. https://doi.org/10.2196/15883CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newcomb, M. E., Sarno, E. L., Bettin, E., Conway, A., Carey, J., Garcia, C., et al. (2022). Protocol for an attention-matched randomized controlled trial of 2gether: A relationship education and HIV prevention program for young male couples. Trials, 23(1), 514. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063–022-06457-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pachankis, J. E. (2014). Uncovering clinical principles and techniques to address minority stress, mental health, and related health risks among gay and bisexual men. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 21(4), 313–330. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12078Google ScholarPubMed
Pachankis, J. E., & Bränström, R. (2018). Hidden from happiness: Structural stigma, sexual orientation concealment, and life satisfaction across 28 countries. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(5), 403–415. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000299CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pachankis, J. E., Sullivan, T. J., Feinstein, B. A., & Newcomb, M. E. (2018). Young adult gay and bisexual men’s stigma experiences and mental health: An 8-year longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 54(7), 1381–1393. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000518CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peitzmeier, S. M., Malik, M., Kattari, S. K., Marrow, E., Stephenson, R., Agénor, M., & Reisner, S. L. (2020). Intimate partner violence in transgender populations: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and correlates. American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), e1–e14. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305774CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pentel, K. Z., Baucom, D. H., Weber, D. M., Wojda, A. K., & Carrino, E. A. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral couple therapy for same-sex female couples: A pilot study. Family Process, 60(4), 1083–1097. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12696CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pepping, C. A., Halford, W. K., Cronin, T. J., & Lyons, A. (2020). Couple relationship education for same-sex couples: A preliminary evaluation of rainbow couplecare. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 19(3), 230–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2020.1746458CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porsch, L. M., Xu, M., Veldhuis, C. B., Bochicchio, L. A., Zollweg, S. S., & Hughes, T. L. (2023). Intimate partner violence among sexual minority women: A scoping review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(5), 3014–3036. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221122815CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Randall, A. K., & Curran, M. A. (2023). Editorial synthesis for 2 in 2023 a collaboration between Iarr’s two journals: Recognizing the need for greater inclusivity in relationship science. Personal Relationships, 30(1), 4–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12477CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, B. A., & Schmitz, R. M. (2021). Beyond resilience: Resistance in the lives of LGBTQ youth. Sociology Compass, 15(12), e12947. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12947CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rostosky, S. S., Cardom, R. D., Hammer, J. H., & Riggle, E. D. B. (2018). LGB positive identity and psychological well-being. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 5(4), 482–489. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000298CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarno, E. L., Newcomb, M. E., & Whitton, S. W. (2023). Minority stress and intimate partner violence among sexual and gender minorities assigned female at birth. Psychology of Violence, 13(3), 239–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000466CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmitz, R. M., & Tyler, K. A. (2019). “Life has actually become more clear”: An examination of resilience among LGBTQ young adults. Sexualities, 22(4), 710–733. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460718770451CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, S. B., Parsons, A. M., Do, Q. A., Knopp, K., & Rhoades, G. K. (2023). Actor–partner effects of sexual minority stress on relationship quality in female same-gender couples. Couple and Family Psychology, 12(2), 73–91. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000183CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, M., Randall, A. K., Lannutti, P. J., Fischer, M. S., Gandhi, Y., Lukas, R., et al. (2022). Intimate pride: A tri-nation study on associations between positive minority identity aspects and relationship quality in sexual minorities from German-speaking countries. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, (S2), 129–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042–022-00070-6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swann, G., Crosby, S., Newcomb, M. E., & Whitton, S. W. (2024). Intersectional stigma and mental health: Interactions with identity authenticity and SGM community in sexual and gender minoritized young adults of color. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 30(3), 566–576. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000580CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swann, G., Dyar, C., Baidoo, L., Crosby, S., Newcomb, M. E., & Whitton, S. W. (2022). Intersectional minority stress and intimate partner violence: The effects of enacted stigma on racial minority youth assigned female at birth. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(2), 1031–1043. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508–021-01958-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallerstein, N., & Duran, B. (2010). Community-based participatory research contributions to intervention research: The intersection of science and practice to improve health equity. American Journal of Public Health, 100(S1), S40–S46. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.184036CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weeks, S. N., Renshaw, T. L., & Vinal, S. A. (2023). Minority stress as a multidimensional predictor of LGB+ adolescents’ mental health outcomes. Journal of Homosexuality, 70(5), 938–962. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.2006000CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whitton, S. W., Scott, S. B., Dyar, C., Weitbrecht, E. M., Hutsell, D. W., & Kuryluk, A. D. (2017). Piloting relationship education for female same-sex couples: Results of a small randomized waitlist-control trial. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(7), 878–888. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000337CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whitton, S. W., Weitbrecht, E. M., Kuryluk, A. D., & Hutsell, D. W. (2016). A randomized waitlist-controlled trial of culturally sensitive relationship education for male same-sex couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(6), 763–768. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000199CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yun, Z., Haimei, H., Min, W., Jiawen, Z., Sumin, T., Weiyi, T., et al. (2023). Family outcome disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual families: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health, 8(3), e010556. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010556Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×