Interpersonal relationship

==== Significant other ====
The term ''significant other'' gained popularity during the 1990s, reflecting the growing acceptance of 'non-heteronormative' relationships. It can be used to avoid making an assumption about the gender or relational status (e.g. married, cohabitating, civil union) of a person's intimate partner. Cohabiting relationships continue to rise, with many partners considering cohabitation to be nearly as serious as, or a substitute for, marriage.<ref name=":3" /> In particular, LGBTQ people often face unique challenges in establishing and maintaining intimate relationships. The strain of internalized discrimination, socially ingrained or [[homophobia]], [[transphobia]] and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, and social pressure of presenting themselves in line with socially acceptable gender norms can affect their health, [[quality of life]], satisfaction, emotions etc. inside and outside their relationships.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mohr|first1=Jonathan J.|last2=Daly|first2=Christopher A. | name-list-style = vanc |title=Sexual minority stress and changes in relationship quality in same-sex couples |journal=Journal of Social and Personal Relationships|volume=25|issue=6|pages=989–1007|doi=10.1177/0265407508100311|year=2008|s2cid=145225150}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Li|first1=Tina|last2=Dobinson|first2=Cheryl|last3=Scheim|first3=Ayden|last4=Ross|first4=Lori | name-list-style = vanc |title=Unique Issues Bisexual People Face in Intimate Relationships: A Descriptive Exploration of Lived Experience |journal=Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health|volume=17|pages=21–39|doi=10.1080/19359705.2012.723607|year=2013|s2cid=145715751}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Iantaffi A, Bockting WO | title = Views from both sides of the bridge? Gender, sexual legitimacy and transgender people's experiences of relationships | journal = Culture, Health & Sexuality | volume = 13 | issue = 3 | pages = 355–70 | date = March 2011 | pmid = 21229422 | pmc = 3076785 | doi = 10.1080/13691058.2010.537770 }}</ref> LGBTQ youth also lack the social support and peer connections enjoyed by hetero-normative young people.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = DeHaan S, Kuper LE, Magee JC, Bigelow L, Mustanski BS | title = The interplay between online and offline explorations of identity, relationships, and sex: a mixed-methods study with LGBT youth | journal = Journal of Sex Research | volume = 50 | issue = 5 | pages = 421–34 | date = 2013 | pmid = 22489658 | doi = 10.1080/00224499.2012.661489 | s2cid = 19195192 }}</ref> Nonetheless, comparative studies of homosexual and heterosexual couples have found few differences in relationship intensity, quality, satisfaction, or commitment.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Roisman GI, Clausell E, Holland A, Fortuna K, Elieff C | title = Adult romantic relationships as contexts of human development: a multimethod comparison of same-sex couples with opposite-sex dating, engaged, and married dyads | journal = Developmental Psychology | volume = 44 | issue = 1 | pages = 91–101 | date = January 2008 | pmid = 18194008 | doi = 10.1037/0012-1649.44.1.91 }}</ref>