A comparative study of GLB individuals/couples and heterosexual individuals/couples

Project (M.S.W., Social Work)--California State University, Sacramento, 2013.Based on the national probability online survey ???How Couples Meet and Stay Together,??? this exploratory study focuses on the variables of socio-demographic characteristics, religiosity, and relationship quality in comparing heterosexual and non-heterosexual individuals and couples. Current literature contains limited empirical research on the gay men, lesbian, and bisexual populations. The studies available mostly rely on small convenience samples of qualitative design. Clearly, large random quantitative samples are needed for stronger generalizability. This secondary data analysis is an attempt to fill such gap. Findings suggest that same-sex couples and different-sex couples are more similar than different, except in the demographics of education and income. The results will inform the cultural competence of social workers who work with sexual minority groups.Social Wor