“Look honey, we’re on T.V.!”: Associations among perceived relational media representation, personal and relational well-being in same gender relationships

The importance of representation of minoritized identities in mass media is a debated topic. How important is representation of minoritized characters to individuals possessing those identities? The current research addressed a component of this question that has previously been overlooked- perceptions of representation among those in minoritized relationships, particularly, same-gender relationships (SGRs). Across three studies we explored the associations between perceptions of more versus less representative media and their association with personal and relational well-being. In Study 1a (n = 238), we found associations between perceived representation and well-being for individuals in SGRs. Study 1b (n = 203) replicated these effects. In Study 2 (n = 109), we found that perceived closeness with a specific couple depicted in media predicted personal and relational well-being, but this effect was moderated by identity clarity. Results from the current study indicated a clear importance of perceiving representation in media for well-being of individuals in minoritized relationships.