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Q1: How do asexual individuals describe their well-being?
Q1: How do asexual individuals describe their well-being?
“...I have to mention my support system is pretty awesome… if I didn’t have them, I would definitely be in a worse place- for sure.” (#2)
Participants expressed medium to high levels of life satisfaction
73.3% of participants (N = 11) directly mentioned their social networks as being the most influential determinant of their level of life satisfaction
“…if I’m having a hard time– I have multiple layers of support, [and] I think that is a big part of my life satisfaction right now.” (#13)
Q2: What is the structure of the social network of asexual individuals in terms of the number of close others, relationship types (e.g. family, friends), and how does this affect their well-being?
Q2: What is the structure of the social network of asexual individuals in terms of the number of close others, relationship types (e.g. family, friends), and how does this affect their well-being?
The average number of individuals listed was 25.4 (SD = 16.1)
55.5% of social network members are aware of their asexual identity (SD = 23.43%)
36.9% of social network members are also gender/sexual minorities (SD = 21.52%)
71.1% of social network members are friends/acquaintances (SD = 15.23%)
26.7% of social network members are family members (SD = 16.2%)
46.7% are in long-term relationships (N = 7), and 13.3% are married (N = 2)
Figure 2
Q3: How do close others support or invalidate asexual individuals, and how does this affect their well-being?
Q3: How do close others support or invalidate asexual individuals, and how does this affect their well-being?
Participants are more likely to come out to others who they know will be supportive
Participants are less likely to form relationships with or come out to individuals who will 1) be unsupportive of the identity or 2) are conservative
“Maybe my social network is so supportive because they wouldn’t be in my network if they weren’t supportive.” (#18)
H1: Having more close relationships with individuals who are aware and validating of the asexual individual's identity will increase well-being.
H1: Having more close relationships with individuals who are aware and validating of the asexual individual's identity will increase well-being.
“I’m seeking friendships as my main source of companionship instead of [romance]… [so] making sure I have strong friendships is important to me. I don’t want to say that’s [all] I have… but like- that’s kind of all I have, so… I really work towards having a positive social circle.” (#5)
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“The opinions of these people [social network members]– it doesn’t change my identity, but it does change how comfortable I feel.” (#12)
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