Thesis advisor: Bernard A. O'Brien / This study investigated factors associated with stable relationships among twelve gay male couples who had been together for a minimum of fifteen years and had not reared children together. Each partner of the participating couples was interviewed separately in a semi-structured retrospective interview that assessed the impact of selected factors during the beginning phase (the first 5 years), the middle phase (years 5-10), and the most recent phase (beyond 10 years) of the relationship. The interpersonal dynamics between the partners and the influences of several sociocultural factors were explored. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 1996. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling Psychology.