The Opinions of Parents vs. Friends in the Dating Decisions of LGBT Individuals Karen L. Blair, PhD University of Utah Caroline F. Pukall, PhD Queen’s University

Social Networks…..

… Love to Have Opinions!

Previous Research  Approval of Romantic Relationships is frequently studied.  Generally, support / approval = good for the relationship  Remaining Questions:  Source of Support  Marginalized Relationships

Parents vs. Friends  “ The Romeo & Juliet Effect”  Disapproval = ^ Commitment  Mixed Results on Parents  Less Mixed Results on Friends  My research:  Parents don’t matter  Parents and Friends Influence different aspects of Relationship Functioning

Current Study  Online Survey:  Past experiences of Relationship Disapproval  From Parents  From Friends  Past decisions based on relationship disapproval  “In Hindsight” judgments of accuracy of social network opinions

Sample  N = 959  Mean Age = 25.5;  Average # of Relationships: 5  Average # of Serious Relationships: 2.26  Gender  37.5% Male  61.7% Female  Sexual Orientation / Identity  63.7% Heterosexual  22.9% Lesbian or Gay  8.3% Bisexual  5.1% Queer

Experiences of Relationship Disapproval Parental Disapproval of Relationships (past/present) * p <.05 Friends’ Disapproval of Relationships (past/present) % Responding “Yes” Heterosexual LGBT Heterosexual LGBT * 50.4% 63.2% 55.5%55.0%

Influence of Disapproval Ended Relationship Due to Disapproval from Parents * p <.05 Ended Relationship Due to Disapproval from Friends % Responding Yes or Somewhat Heterosexual LGBT Heterosexual LGBT * 20.8% 11.9% 21.4% 21.6%

Who’s Approval Matters Most? Heterosexual ParticipantsLGBT Participants % Selecting Person as “Most Important Source of Approval” Mother Ext. Family Father Best Friend Siblings Closest Friends Mother Ext. Family Father Best Friend Siblings Closest Friends % 37.4% 62.6% 36.6%

In Hindsight: Who Was Most Accurate? Heterosexual ParticipantsLGBT Participants % Selecting As Most Accurate Parents Ext. Family Siblings Closest Friends Parents Ext. Family Siblings Closest Friends % 9.7%

Conclusions: LGBT Dating Decisions Relationship Disapproval from Parents Ending Relationship Based on Parental Disapproval Accuracy of Parents’ Past Opinions Importance of Friends’ Approval

Future Directions Parents vs. Friends?

Thank You  Website:   Academia.edu: Karen L. Blair, PhD – University of Utah, USA Caroline F. Pukall, PhD – Queen’s University, Canada