Work

Partnership patterns and living arrangements of LGBTQ+ identifying US adults: Estimates from a probability-based survey

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUNDMost national surveys exclude sexual and gender identity (SOGI) measures or do not link them with household rosters and non-coresidential partnership questions, limiting demographic estimates of LGBTQ+ family life. OBJECTIVEWe examine differences in relationship status and living arrangements between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ identifying US adults.Specifically, we compare the shares of those who live with a spouse, live with an unmarried partner, have a non-coresidential partner, or have no partner.We also assess household size and composition, including living alone, coresidence with children and/or other family, and living with unrelated roommates. METHODS Data come from the 2021 American Marriage Survey, a probability-based survey of 2,806 US adults recruited through the AmeriSpeak panel of the National Opinion Research Center. RESULTSLGBTQ+ identifying adults were less likely than non-LGBTQ+ identifying adults to be in a coresidential marital relationship but were more likely to report an unmarried cohabiting partner, a non-coresidential partner, or no partner.They were also more likely to live alone or with unrelated roommates and less likely to live with children.Consequently, LGBTQ+ identifying adults tend to live in smaller households, which may heighten social isolation risk.

Source: Demographic Research

DOI: 10.4054/demres.2026.54.11

Authors: Christopher Julian, D'Lane Compton, Gayle Kaufman

Institutions: Vanderbilt University, Davidson College

Language: English

Topic: LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Science Foundation