WASHINGTON—Researchers at the University of Illinois published study results recently that concluded that gay and lesbian couples are just as committed to their relationships as straight couples.

Lead author Glenn Roisman, a psychology professor at UI’s main campus in Urbana, wrote that gay males and lesbians “were generally not different from their committed heterosexual counterparts on how well they interacted with one another, although some evidence emerged the lesbian couples were especially effective at resolving conflict.”

The authors said the study results refute the notion that gay and lesbian couples aren’t as secure and committed as straight couples.

A second study, conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, San Diego State University and the University of Vermont, said that legal status doesn’t seem to be a prime factor in the durability and security of gay and lesbian relationships, though it did find limited evidence that civil union status may influence couples to stay together longer.

But, said the researchers, gay and lesbian couples are similar to straight couples in their responses to questions about how satisfied they are with their relationships.