Adaptation and adjustment of married homosexual males

Abstract

Problems in adaptation and adjustment of males who were predominantly homosexual and had heterosexually married were investigated by means of a 210-item questionnaire. Scales measuring psychological adjustment, respondent's background, ways of relating to the homosexual and heterosexual cultures, and projected reaction of peers and society to homosexuality were included. Results differentiated between three groups of homosexuals previously married, currently married and never married (N = 21 each group) at p < .01 on projected peer and societal reaction. Respondents were matched on age, education and socio-economic status. It was concluded that the respondents who had at any time been married expected more anti-homosexual reaction and had shown situation-specific conformity in marrying. There was no evidence to suggest that respondents were different from similar samples in Western society, or that heterosexual marriage led to many problems in psychological adjustment when the adaptation of compartmentalisation was used. Socio-clinical profiles of the sub-types of married homosexuals were also produced.