Relationship Satisfaction, Social Support, and Psychological Well-Being in a Sample of Italian Lesbian and Gay Individuals

Abstract

This study attempted to measure relationship satisfaction, social support, and psychological well-being in a sample of 235 Italian lesbian and gay individuals (46.8% were female, and 53.2% were male, age M = 32) with an average age of 32 years. We administered a research protocol composed of the Gay and Lesbian Relationship Satisfaction Scale (Belous & Wampler, 2016), the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Busby, Christensen, Crane, & Larson, 1995), and the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2 (Lambert et al., 1996). We found evidence of reliability and validity, with some cultural differences. Our results revealed that the dimensions emerging from the exploratory factor analysis corresponded well to the two dimensions proposed by Belous & Wampler. Data also revealed that total scores of GLRSS and scores of GRLSS Satisfaction Scale are significantly interrelated with all RDAS scales, and that no significant relationships were observed between GLRSS Social support scale and RDAS. The correlations of the GLRSS scales with the level of psychological distress measured by the OQ-45 revealed that less satisfied and less supported individuals tend to suffer more psychological, interpersonal and social difficulties. The findings indicate that the Italian Version of GRLSS can be used with clinical, non-clinical, and research samples for Italian-speaking same gender couples.

Keywords:

• Cultural adaptation
• gay and lesbian relationships
• relationship satisfaction
• social support
• validation study

Compliance with ethical standards

In conducting the present research, all applicable ethical guidelines were followed. All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee of the first author’s academic institution, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Participation in the study was voluntary and the information provided was anonymous and confidential. Digitally captured informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation in the study.

Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.