While the connection between destructive conflict management strategies and marital distress has been well-documented in the marital literature, little is known about this connection in same-sex couples. Given that literature has shown that same-sex couples are similar to married couples in terms of relationship adjustment, satisfaction, and commitment, the negative effects of destructive conflict should be similar. Although research has shown that relationship quality is similar for same-sex and married couples, little is known about whether the determinants of relationship quality are the same for both couples, as well. Based on previous research that identifies negative escalation as the key interactional indicator and predictor of marital distress, the proposed study will investigate the links between negative affect regulation and relationship quality in same- sex couples. Furthermore, in light of the consistent findings of husband/wife differences in conflict management, this study is particularly interested in the impact of gender roles on negative affect regulation in same-sex couples. That is, how does gender role identity impact conflict management skills in same-sex couples? Specifically, this study will test the hypotheses that destructive conflict management will be related to relationship distress and that gender role variable-masculinity, femininity, and androgyny, will be related to specific affect regulation strategies. These hypotheses will be tested in a cross-sectional design that will involve a multidimensional assessment of relationship interaction.
