Monosexism and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples with a Bi+ Male Partner

Abstract

Romantic relationships have been associated with greater well-being for heterosexual and sexual minority people; however, emerging evidence suggests bisexual+ (bi+) people may experience romantic relationships as less supportive and more stressful than monosexual (i.e., attracted to one gender) people. Monosexism (i.e., a bias against sexual/romantic attraction to more than one gender) may partially explain this disparity. The current study aimed to expand understanding of monosexism’s impact on the relationship satisfaction of romantic/sexual relationships with at least one bi+ man. I hypothesized that monosexism (extra-dyadic, partner, and internalized) would inversely predict relationship satisfaction in both partners, and that dyadic stress and dyadic trust would mediate these relations. A total of 242 bi+ men (Partner A) and 95 romantic/sexual partners (Partner B) participated in the current study. Partner As were recruited via organization listservs and social media (e.g., Facebook and Instagram); they completed a survey measuring study variables and had the option to forward a link to partner B to complete a survey measuring all variables except extra-dyadic and internalized monosexism. I used path analysis to test hypothesized relations among variables. Several of my main hypotheses were supported. Multiple monosexism variables inversely predicted both Partner A and Partner B relationship satisfaction. Additionally, ratings of dyadic trust and dyadic stress from both partners mediated actor and partner effects. I also explored the associations between Partner B sexual orientation and gender and main study variables. Partner B sexual orientation and gender were linked to some monosexism variables as well as both partners’ relationship satisfaction. This study is likely the first study to examine multiple sources of monosexism in relation to the health of bi+ men’s romantic relationships using dyadic data.