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Evaluation ViewAttendees 5

Couples / Close Relationships
Symposia

Symposium 51 - Identifying modifiable relationship factors to strengthen development and dissemination of health-focused interventions for sexual and gender minority people

Friday, November 15, 2024
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom K/L, Level 5, Downtown Marriott
CE: 1

Keywords: Couples / Close Relationships, LGBTQ+, Translational Research
Level of Familiarity: Moderate
Recommended Readings: Newcomb, M. E. (2020). Romantic relationships and sexual minority health: A review and description of the Dyadic Health Model. Clinical Psychology Review, 82, 101924.,  
Scott, S. B., Whitton, S. W., & Buzzella, B. A. (2019). Providing relationship interventions to same-sex couples: Clinical considerations, program adaptations, and continuing education. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 26(2), 270-284.
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Baucom, D. H., Whisman, M. A., & Paprocki, C. (2012). Couple‐based interventions for psychopathology. Journal of Family Therapy, 34(3), 250-270.
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Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are at risk for a range of negative health outcomes including sexual health and mental health relative to their cisgender, heterosexual peers. A driver of these is SGM-related stress (e.g., discrimination, internalized stigma). Stigma also shapes the social development of SGM people by limiting access to relationship role models and delaying opportunities to safely date and develop relationship skills. Thus, SGM-related stress could negatively impact health outcomes through its impact on SGM individuals’ ability to develop healthy romantic relationships.
Health disparities may therefore be addressable by enhancing SGM people’s romantic relationships. However, there are critical gaps along the translational science spectrum to better understanding and addressing modifiable relationship factors linked to SGM health. This symposium will include talks by speakers that can begin to fill these knowledge gaps. The studies they will present employ a range of methods (e.g., dyadic, longitudinal, intervention science, and implementation science) to identify modifiable relationship factors for SGM health interventions along the translational pathway.
Speaker 1 will present dyadic data from a national sample of cisgender, sexual minority couples collected after federally legalized same-sex marriage in the United States. This study shows that married couples (relative to unmarried couples) report significantly lower depressive symptoms, over and above relationship and demographic factors. Findings suggest marital status may be protective of sexual minorities’ mental health in the newer landscape of full legal marriage access.
Speaker 2 will present longitudinal data from a large, racially/ethnically diverse cohort of SGM young people on predictors of romantic relationship quality. Findings suggest that relationship factors (e.g., dedication, negative communication) and minority stress are associated with relationship quality. Yet, only negative communication, a risk factor for poor relationship quality among all couples, predicted relationship quality over time.
Speaker 3 will present data from an open pilot trial of an evidence-based relationship-focused intervention that was adapted for Latino sexual minority men. The presentation will provide data on the acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention, describe participant perceptions, and describe how the adapted intervention addressed sexual minority and Latino cultural considerations while providing evidence-based relationship skills.
Speaker 4 will describe qualitative findings on implementation facilitators and barriers from a range of stakeholders for the implementation of an efficacious relationship education and HIV prevention program for young sexual and gender minorities. Findings point to the fit of the program for a wide variety of settings, though implementation barriers vary by setting.
Last, the discussant, an esteemed scholar with an extensive program of basic science and intervention research with SGM couples and individuals, will summarize themes and unique contributions for the field across the studies. They will guide a rich discussion of how these findings can advance the field.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Explain how marital status is associated with mental health for sexual minority couples now that full legal marriage access is available.
  2. Describe how relationship factors and stigma are associated with change in satisfaction over time for LGBTQ+ young people.
  3. Compare minority stress related vs. relationship factors linked to LGBTQ+ health outcomes
  4. Identify the characteristics of an intervention adapted for Latino gay and bisexual men
  5. Contrast barriers to implementation of a relationship-focused program for young LGBTQ+ people.

Presentations:

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 51) After Obergefell: Associations Between Marital Status and Depressive Symptoms Among Cisgender Sexual Minority Couples

    Speaker: Dominique Harlan, B.A. (she/her/hers) – University of Denver

    Co-author: Dominique Harlan, B.A. (she/her/hers) – University of Denver

    Co-author: Daphne Liu, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Denver

    Co-author: John Miller, B.A., J.D. (he/him/his) – University of Denver

    Co-author: Nicholas Perry, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Denver

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 51) Universal and Group-specific Predictors of Relationship Quality Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young People

    Speaker: Nicholas Perry, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Denver

    Co-author: Michael E. Newcomb, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Northwestern University

    Co-author: Sarah Whitton, PhD – University of Cincinnati

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 51) Responding to Community Priorities: Acceptability and Community Fit of an Adapted Relationship Skills Program for Latino Sexual Minority Men in South Florida

    Speaker: Audrey Harkness, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Miami

    Co-author: Roberto Roman Laporte, PhD, DNP, RN, CMSRB, EBP-C (he/him/his) – VitalBridge Health

    Co-author: Nequiel Reyes, M.P.H. – University of Miami

    Co-author: Eddie Orozco, GGA, SME, MA – Pridelines

    Co-author: Alex Moro, BA (he/him/his) – University of Miami

    Co-author: Nicole Altenberg, B.S. – University of Miami

    Co-author: Galena Rhoades, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Denver

    Co-author: Nicholas Perry, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Denver

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 51) Implementation Determinants of a Relationship Education and HIV Prevention Program for Young Sexual and Gender Minorities

    Speaker: Michael E. Newcomb, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Northwestern University

    Co-author: Ricky Hill, Ph.D. – Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing Northwestern University

    Co-author: Dennis Li, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Northwestern University

    Co-author: Brian Mustanski, Ph.D. – Northwestern University