INTRAPERSONAL MATURITY AS A FACTOR IN THE STABILITY OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31392/Keywords:
intrapersonal maturity, romantic relationships, LGBTIQ+ individuals, attachment styles, emotional regulation, minority stress, psychological counselingAbstract
The relevance of this study is determined by the need for an empirical analysis of the psychological factors underlying the stability of romantic relationships among members of the LGBTQ+ community in the context of chronic social pressure, stigmatization, and anticipated rejection. Minority stress is associated with increased emotional tension, difficulties in self-regulation, and the formation of insecure attachment patterns, which complicates the maintenance of stable partner relationships. At the same time, the role of intrapersonal maturity as a resource for stabilizing romantic relationships remains insufficiently explored empirically. The aim of the article is to provide an empirical justification for the role of intrapersonal maturity in the formation of stable romantic relationships among LGBTQ+ individuals. The study was conducted using a mixed-methods design that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. The instruments included the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-S), the Intrapersonal Maturity Questionnaire developed by O. Shtepa, the Marital Potential Diagnostic Method, semi-structured interviews, and written reflections titled “My Ideal Partner.” The results revealed statistically significant inverse relationships between the level of intrapersonal maturity and indicators of anxious and avoidant attachment. Higher levels of reflection, responsibility, and emotional self-regulation were associated with more conscious partner selection, lower emotional dependence, and greater relationship stability. Qualitative analysis of the interviews identified typical patterns of relational experience, including partner idealization, fear of the social visibility of relationships, devaluation of one’s own needs, and expectations of emotional “rescue” within the partnership. The results obtained indicate that intrapersonal maturity functions as an important psychological resource for stabilizing romantic relationships and mediates the influence of socio-psychological stressors on partner interaction.
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