A major new study challenging the notion of traditional one-party relationships leading to happier love life, the study found that like the relationship and sex life with a partner, their relationship and sex life were equally satisfactory.
The groundbreaking meta-analysis, published on March 26 in the Journal of Sexual Research, examines data from 35 studies involving nearly 25,000 people in the United States, Canada, Australia and several European countries. The researchers found no significant difference in satisfaction between those who chose monogamous and those who engaged in various forms of non-marriage.
“It is generally believed that monogamous relationships can have greater satisfaction, intimacy, commitment, enthusiasm and trust than non-monogamous relationships. This belief – what we say is “monogamous more, more self-self” – both stereotypes and media narratives can be enhanced.
These findings are at a time when alternative relational structures gain visibility, although they remain stigmatized in many circles. Although monogamy remains the main relationship model in Western society, the study notes that about 5% of adults are considered to be in non-monogamous relationships, and about 20% of adults experience some form of non-marriage at some point in their lives.
Non-monogamy encompasses a variety of consensus arrangements in which all parties involved are aware of and agree to the relationship structure. These include polygamy (with multiple loving relationships), open relationships (maintaining romantic exclusivity but allowing sexual intercourse with others), and “monogamy” relationships (usually monogamous with occasional exceptions to agree).
It is worth noting that the research team found that these satisfaction levels remain consistent regardless of demographic factors. Both LGBTQ+ and heterosexual participants showed similar patterns, which challenged any notion that relational structural preferences were associated with sexual orientation.
Researchers speculate that one reason for comparable satisfaction levels may be related to infidelity. “Our theory about why these findings occur may depend on what we think is the most common problem in relationships, which is certainly the most common factor in relationship collapse – infidelity,” Anderson explained. “People in non-monogamous relationships usually reach agreements with their partners, which means that infidelity is not a relevant factor in their relationship, and for people in monogamous relationships, it’s naturally a heartbreaking experience.”
In examining specific aspects of relationship satisfaction, the researchers found that people in non-monogamous relationships actually reported higher levels of trust than their monogamous peers. This goes against the common assumption that exclusivity is necessary for trust to flourish among partners.
The study also found interesting changes in different types of non-uniform relationships. People in the “monogamous” relationship reported slightly higher relationship satisfaction than those in the monogamous relationship, while those arranged in polymorphism and swing reported higher sexual satisfaction.
Despite these positive findings, non-uniform men continue to face significant social challenges. Previous research shows that approximately 25% of multimedia individuals experience bias based on their relationship orientation. Many healthcare practitioners also view non-monogamy as a sign of emotional distress rather than an effective relationship choice.
“What we see is that although their relationships are scrutinized in most societies, their relationships are treated differently, and even though their relationship structures are seen as normative, their relationships are treated differently or biased.”
These findings have a significant impact on therapists, healthcare providers, and policy makers who may currently use unconscious bias to make monogamous as ideal. Researchers suggest that professionals should recognize and support various relationship structures rather than making monogamy the default model.
As our understanding of interpersonal relationships continues to evolve, this study challenges us to question the long-standing assumption that the reasons for achieving romantic and sexual relationships in the twenty-first century.
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