The accounts given by ten lesbians of their sexual and relationship experiences were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The emergent themes were compared to the existing literature on lesbian sexual relationships, and psychological approaches and models of sexual and relationship practices. The rationale for conducting this study was to contribute to a growing body of lesbian and gay research by exploring the domains of lesbian sexual and relationship practices using a qualitative research design. The research aimed to address the 'normalised absence and pathological presence' of lesbians' in mainstream psychological literatures. This research was concerned with exploring how the respondents understood and described their sexual and relational practices. The findings illustrate that the accounts given were not 'problem saturated narratives' but descriptions located in the context of everyday life. While 'problem areas' were identified including issues relating to frequency of sexual activity, appraisals and attributions differed from explanations in the literature. A number of additional themes were also identified which have previously been undocumented. These included: risk perception and management of threats to the relationship; experiences of relationship breakdown; descriptions of lesbian love; strengths of the relationship; how sexual practices and psychosexual difficulties are defined and the limited language available to describe them. The findings are critically discussed in relation to existing theoretical perspectives and clinical models available to practitioners working with lesbian clients. Recommendations are made with regard to good practice with sexual minority clients, training needs of clinical psychologists, and theoretical and research development in the domain of lesbian relationships. II
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:532490 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Creith, Elaine |
| Publisher | University of East London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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