Cohesion and satisfaction in relationships as a function of gender and sexual orientation

Previous comparisons of relationship cohesion and satisfaction in homosexual and heterosexual couples have produced mixed results. Based on recent empirical findings, the hypotheses in the present investigation were as follows: (1) Female homosexuals would report significantly higher relationship satisfaction than would all other subjects; (2) female homosexuals would score significantly higher on all measures of relationship cohesion than would other groups, with heterosexual women scoring significantly higher than all men; (3) cohesion would correlate more positively with high satisfaction for female homosexuals than for any other group; and (4) the Cohesion Scale would correlate positively with the Peplau Dyadic Attachment and Spanier Dyadic Cohesion Scales. A total of 27 male heterosexuals, 26 female heterosexuals, 23 male homosexuals, and 39 female homosexuals who had been involved in their current relationships for at least 1 year completed a relationship questionnaire. None of the hypotheses were supported; however, homosexuals reported significantly higher relationship satisfaction and obtained significantly higher scores on the Peplau Dyadic Attachment Scale than did heterosexuals, regardless of sex. The present findings suggest that female homosexuals are not as distinct a group with regard to relationship cohesion as previous literature would suggest. Scale validity and implications for further research are discussed