Connolly, Colleen Marilyn. 「Lesbian Couples: a Qualitative Study of Strengths and Resilient Factors in Long-term Relationships.」 Ph. D diss., St. Mary』s University (San Antonio), 1998.

Abstract:
Factors of strength, resiliency, and longevity were explored with 10 long-term lesbian couples together for 10 or more years. Average relationship length was 18 years. The couples were jointly interviewed using a combined feminist, ethnographic, and phenomenological methodology. Follow-up interviews allowed for clarifying, collapsing, redefining, and shifting themes within the emerging process. The couples' experiences centered on two major themes: connection and resources. The distinct themes of connection and resources were interrelated in that the available resources supported and enhanced the couples' connection.

Themes of connection are defined as those factors that are felt to strengthen the bonds between the two partners. Mutual sharing of values, interests, goals, relational history and friendship, and similarities in life stages were important in the couples' connection. Couples expressed a personal dedication and prioritizing of the relationship that also involved commitment and empowerment. Feelings of interdependence included love, physical intimacy, relationship renewal, and the maintenance of a relational balance.

The second major theme, resources, consisted of both interpersonal and external resources. These factors increased the couples' ability to create new and unique ways of maintaining the relationship without traditional guideposts. Interpersonal resources involved three areas: communication competence, coping skills, and innovation.

Competence in communication included the ability to effectively compromise, negotiate, and manage conflict. The couples spoke of different yet complementary approaches to communication, and they used humor, laughter, and the nonverbal elements of romance, caring gestures, and intuitiveness to enhance their communication competence. Coping skills necessary to negotiate internal and external stress involved the use of a positive perspective, determination, reconnection, and flexibility in maintaining the relationship. In addition to the universal elements of coping, descriptions of negotiating the lesbian identity in an often unfriendly environment are included. These 10 couples described innovative ways of approaching roles, tasks, finances, rituals, and spirituality that suited their unique couple needs.

Finally, external resources, such as family, friends, role models, and community, were considered very important support structures in these long-term relationships. Thus, the connection and the maximization of resource opportunities were reported as sources of strength and resiliency for the 10 long-term lesbian couples interviewed.