Do implicit theories of sexuality shape relationship well-being differently for LGBTQ+ versus NON-LGBTQ+ individuals?

Taylor, A. (2023). Do implicit theories of sexuality shape relationship well-being differently for LGBTQ+ versus NON-LGBTQ+ individuals?. https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3980

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Title

Do implicit theories of sexuality shape relationship well-being differently for LGBTQ+ versus NON-LGBTQ+ individuals?

Author
Taylor, Abigail
Call Number

LE3 .A278 2023

Date

2023

Supervisor

Gauvin, Stéphanie
Maxwell, Jessica

Degree Grantor

Acadia University

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Degree Level

Honours

Discipline

Psychology

Affiliation

Psychology

Abstract

Implicit theories of sexuality are individuals’ beliefs as to how sexual satisfaction can be maintained (Maxwell et al., 2017). There are sexual growth beliefs, where effort and work is how sexual satisfaction is maintained, and sexual destiny beliefs, where being with the right partner is how sexual satisfaction is maintained (Maxwell et al., 2017). However, research on implicit theories of sexuality have yet to investigate how these beliefs differ or are similar with LGBTQ+ people. The goal of the current project was to expand the scientific understanding of relationships by asking how LGBTQ+ people and implicit theories of sexuality work together. There were two research questions: (1) do LGBTQ+ people differ on sexual growth and/or sexual destiny beliefs when compared to non-LGBTQ+ people, which we hypothesised that LGBTQ+ would hold higher sexual growth beliefs than non-LGBTQ+ people based on sexual script theory, and (2) does Maxwell et al.’s (2017) findings wherein sexual incompatibility and sexual destiny beliefs are negatively associated with relationship satisfaction generalize to LGBTQ+ people. Using an online cross-sectional study design, participants (n = 685) were assessed on their sexual growth and destiny beliefs, compatibility, and relationship satisfaction using four measures. LGBTQ+ people did have lower sexual destiny scores than non-LGBTQ+ people, but the finding was so small that it is unlikely to be clinically significant; LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ people did not differ in levels of sexual growth belief. The interaction between sexual destiny beliefs and sexual incompatibility on relationship satisfaction generalized to an LGBTQ+ sample.

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Permanent Link

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3980

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