Queer Interethnic relationships: Couples Minority Stress and Resilience for Intersectionally Marginalized Couples

Interethnic relationships and same sex relationships continue to grow in the U.S., but they remain understudied. In a new MRI funded dissertation study, Sree Sinha, MA, a doctoral student in the Department of Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver, aims to investigate queer people of color (QPOC), examining their individual and relational health through couple-level minority stress theory (CLMS). CLMS addresses unique stressors experienced in a relationship that is societally marginalized, such as interethnic or queer relationships and is associated with dyadic and individual health outcomes. Other studies have found that these minority stressors are associated with depressive symptomology, psychological distress, and problematic drinking.

Ms. Sinha is studying this group. Her research questions are: 1. How does couple level minority stress impact queer people of color in interethnic romantic relationships? and 2. What factors support queer people of color in interethnic romantic relationships? She hypothesizes that greater experiences with CLMS will be associated with poorer psychological well-being, and that positive ethnosexual identity for QPOC, couple identity strength, and affective dyadic coping will moderate the relationship between experiences of CLMS on the outcomes of relationship satisfaction and psychological well-being.

Adopting an intersectional framework, the study seeks to understand the experiences of QPOC in interethnic romantic relationships using a cross-sectional design with an internet-based survey. The focus is on QPOC partners to examine their experiences of intersectional CLMS. Participants are being recruited from media platforms, online digital communities, community centers and listservs. Organizations have been targeted which cater to the needs of QPOC, including those catering to different ethnic identities and sexual orientations.

Potential impacts of this study include developing more successful, satisfied relationships for multiply marginalized individuals and increasing their psychological health. Increasing resiliency of QPOC is also anticipated. Couple therapists who support queer and/or interethnic relationships may benefit from this research by improving their understanding of specific factors which may best mitigate experiences of minority stress for these couples. Increasing scientific knowledge of those in queer, interethnic relationships can provide important insight around best psychological and behavioral health practices to promote the formation and maintenance of healthy relationships for marginalized couples and families. Further, these couples can apply the study’s findings to their own relationships.