The Relationship Between Multiple Roles and Well-Being among Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Adults

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that occupying multiple roles, as a worker, a partner, and a parent, is associated with higher levels of well-being. Yet, because these studies have been based on predominantly heterosexual samples, it is unclear whether this pattern extends to gay men and lesbians or varies by sexual orientation. This study, which uses pooled data from a probability sample of U.S. adults (N = 18,187), begins to fill the void. Results suggest that for sexual minorities as well as heterosexuals, occupying multiple roles is positively associated with well-being; however, the findings suggest that differences exist across gendered sexual orientation groups in both the extent and strength of the associations. There also are differences across these groups in the importance of different role combinations in relation to well-being. Results are discussed in light of traditional role theory and in terms of contextual factors related to sexual orientation.

KEYWORDS:

• gay men and lesbians
• multiple roles
• sexual orientation
• well-being
• work-family

Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society, Saint Louis, MO, American Sociological Association.