Intact Marriages in Which One Partner Dis-Identifies with Experiences of Same-Sex Attraction: A Follow-Up Study

This study is a one-year follow-up study of heterosexually married couples in which one partner reports having experienced same-sex attraction and both partners report satisfaction with their marriage despite facing such constraints. Questionnaires were sent to 32 individuals who had participated in the initial study. Of these, 30 returned completed questionnaires. The questionnaires contained open-ended questions about the participants' experiences, motivations, coping behaviors, and so on. Analysis suggested a number of themes related to vulnerability to extramarital relationships, coping activities, and satisfaction with marriage. Suggestions for clinical practice include exploring sexual identity issues, maintaining communication, and monitoring emotional connection in the marital dyad.