Same-Sex Marriage and Privacy Management: Examining Couples' Communication with Family Members

Abstract

Communication Privacy Management theory (CPM) is used as a theoretical framework to describe married or engaged same-sex couples' (N = 48) regulation of their private information during interactions with family members about legally recognized same-sex marriage (SSM). Couples' described how SSM triggered privacy rule change among family members. Couples and family members experienced privacy boundary rule coordination and privacy turbulence surrounding sharing news about the couples' SSM and about the couples' relationship details. The study suggests CPM is a useful way to conceptualize the communication that couples and families have about SSM.

Notes

¹The interviews were semi-standardized such that the protocol was used as a guide for all interviews. Ultimately, the interviews, including follow-up questions, prompts, and probes, developed uniquely based on responses.