Support in Response to a Spouse's Distress: Comparing Women and Men in Same-sex and Different-sex Marriages.

ABSTRACT: Support for a spouse with psychological distress can be expressed in many different ways. Previous research indicates that support expression is shaped by gender, but we do not know much about how support within marriage is provided in response to a spouse's distress outside of a different-sex couple context. In this study, we analyze dyadic data from 378 midlife married couples (35-65 years; N = 756 individuals) within the U.S. to examine how men and women in same- and different-sex relationships provide support when they perceive that their spouse is experiencing distress. We find women in different-sex couples are less likely to report taking care of their distressed spouse's tasks or giving their distressed spouse more personal time and space compared to women in same-sex couple

SUBMITTER: Thomeer MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8590207 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature