Multicultural Psychology Commons^™

Understanding Partner Loss In Same-Sex Couples, Margaret E. Manges

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of the present study is to examine the difficulties faced by sexual minorities who have lost their partners. More specifically, the impact of outness, relationship comfort, and social support on the bereavement process of same- and mixed-sex couples will be overviewed. The hypothesis of the present study is to examine whether social support, relationship comfort, and visibility mediate the relationship between sexual orientation and stress after the loss of a partner. In previous research, social support for the recently bereaved has been studied quite extensively; however, research has yet to examine sexual minorities and the specific hindrances this …