Can Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals Benefit From General Couple Relationship Education?: Comparative Benefits in Individual and Relational Functioning

Abstract

Couple relationship education (CRE) programs have been widely implemented across the nation for decades and serve an increasingly diverse population of couples; however, effectiveness studies have continued to focus on the experiences of the “average” participant, thus overlooking the experience of minoritized populations. Few studies have centered on the experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, especially those who identify as SGM but are in different-gender appearing relationships. Using a sample of 153 SGM CRE participants (80% cisgender women, 52% identified as bisexual or pansexual, 57% had a different-gender partner) and 2061 non-SGM participants who are racially and economically diverse, this study compared baseline differences and post-program growth trajectories between SGM and non-SGM participants in relationship quality, skills, mental, and physical health symptoms. Results show that SGM and non-SGM participants have similar average levels of relationship functioning and skills at baseline, but SGM participants report more mental health symptoms and lower sleep quality, on average. Following propensity score matching, growth curve models indicated no differences in the significant growth for both groups from baseline to 6 months in relationship quality, skills, and sleep quality, suggesting similar benefits. However, a significant interaction effect indicated that SGM participants improved more in mental health symptoms compared to non-SGM participants. This is encouraging evidence that SGM individuals can benefit from general CRE and further validates efforts for inclusion.