Using the Dyadic Health Model to Address Unique Same-Sex Couple Stressors

Michael Newcomb, Ph.D., an Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH) faculty member, recently authored a paper introducing the dyadic health model to address the unique relationship stressors of same-sex couples. The paper, “Romantic relationships and sexual minority health: A review and description of the Dyadic Health Model,” was published in Clinical Psychology Review, a prestigious journal with an impact factor of 10.255.

Newcomb explains that, thus far, models of relationship quality predicting individual health and wellbeing have been primarily based off different-sex couples. Though these models have been applied to same-sex couples with some success, there is a dire need for a model that addresses the unique stressors same-sex couples experience in relationships. Newcomb responds to this need with the dyadic health model.

The paper reviews existing literature and theoretical models used to understand the impact of relationship functioning on health, and Newcomb offers a more sufficient integrated model of relationship functioning and health for same-sex couples that can be used as a basis for further studies on sexual minority couples.

Newcomb explains that decades of research demonstrate that couples in committed relationships experience health benefits over time. For example, when one partner’s unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and substance use decrease, those behaviors often diminish concurrently in the second partner.

However, one’s relationship status does not always lead to positive health behaviors. More recent research in this area suggests that the overall quality of the relationship is a stronger predictor of one’s health. Further, Newcomb’s previous research illustrates that minority couples experience unique stressors that impact overall relationship quality and, ultimately, health.

Despite the vast body of literature documenting relationship quality and health outcomes, Newcomb argues that there is a dearth of research specifically concerning same-sex couples. To address this, Newcomb introduces the Dyadic Health Model, which builds upon existing theories of relationship quality while also drawing upon minority stress theory and the vulnerability-stress-adaptation perspective. This model can be used to frame important research questions related to same-sex couples.