The attachment theory has long been prevalent in history and in the shaping of the minds in society in terms of relationships. The same can also be said about attachment theory and homosexual relationships.

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   Dr. Mark Kent discusses this topic in his doctorate thesis, “The Relationship between Lesbian and Gay Legal Relationship Status and Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, and Health.” When writing the dissertation at the Alliant International University in Fresno, California, he discovered very little research has been done on the ideology of the attachment theory and the application of it with LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc.) community. He states that that there were “limited studies on the role of attachment related to same-sex couples and no known studies related to same-sex married couples and attachment.” Despite minimal results, Dr. Kent believes that the rise in visibility of same-sex relationships in society and in the media in recent decades is causing an increase in interest to see the dynamics of homosexual relationship and the forms of attachment that are coming into play within these relationships.

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   With his own findings, Dr. Kent reports that in studies from Australia and New Zealand, he found that forms of attachment and relationships between of people of the same sex is the same as those of heterosexual couples, however, Kent reports that there are stronger forms of secure attachment among homosexual couples. He believes this secure attachment stems from “the process of coming out.” With the accepting of self and the act of disclosing one's sexual orientation with others, gay people are more likely to have a secure form of attachment and see more satisfaction when it comes to their relationship.

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   Dr. Kent breaks down how secure forms of attachment are linked to homosexual couples based on gender as well. In his studies, he finds that, with gay men, secure attachment can be directly correlated with physical health. Looking at those who are secure, they are more likely to practice the use of protection during intercourse. With Lesbians, Dr. Kent reports that ideas of sexual exclusivity and monogamy are part of the secure form of attachment found in their relationships. That, alongside living with their significant other, tie into the report of satisfaction of relationships between two women.

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   As previously stated, there remains little research on how attachment plays a role in relationships between two male or female partners. 

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Reference

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Kent, Mark. The Relationship between Lesbian and Gay Legal Relationship Status and Attachment, Relationship          Satisfaction, and Health, Alliant International University, Ann Arbor, 2014. ProQuest,                                                   http://ezproxy.library.unlv.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1639629888?accountid=3611.