Satisfaction in Consensual Nonmonogamy

Abstract

Inaccurate stigmas and stereotypes may prevent individuals involved in consensual nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships from getting the counseling they seek when facing relational issues. Misperceptions regarding the satisfaction level of individuals in CNM relationships may perpetuate stereotypes and complicate therapeutic care. The current research attempted to determine the satisfaction levels of those involved in CNM relationships using the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) and the Relational Assessment Questionnaire. Results of N = 150 find a mean of 4.12 (0.76) on the RAS for the CNM group indicating no difference in satisfaction between the CNM sample and individuals identifying as monogamous. This research offers important considerations for counselors in reviewing biases and judgments they may hold in working with this population and contributes to the dearth of literature on CNM populations.

Family and consensual non‐monogamy: Parents' perceptions of benefits and challenges

“…Similarly, although many participants in this study perceived CNM as having a beneficial effect on the longevity of their relationships, and therefore as strengthening their family, previous quantitative studies on the topic found no significant differences between individuals practicing CNM and those invested in monogamous relationships with regards to relationship satisfaction (Bricker & Horne, 2007;Garner et al, 2019), relationship quality (Hosking, 2013) or relationship stability (Rubel & Bogaert, 2015). In fact, based on a survey of 229 gay men in open relationships, "three-some only" or monogamous relationships, Hosking (2013) found that it is not the relationship format itself that influences relationship quality, but rather, adhering (or not) to the conditions of the relationship agreement.…”

BDSM: Does it Hurt or Help Sexual Satisfaction, Relationship Satisfaction, and Relationship Closeness?

“…However, most studies did not find associations between CNM and these outcomes in research that did not target BDSM populations (e.g. Fairbrother et al, 2019;Garner et al, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2016;Rubel & Bogaert, 2015) though some reported lower relationship satisfaction among CNM participants (e.g. Levine et al, 2018).…”

‘It's a magnifying glass for your relationship’: a thematic analysis of motivations, benefits, and challenges in consensually non‐monogamous relationships

“…Contrary to the impact of stigma, well‐being and satisfaction in CNM relationships are areas where recent research has offered more nuanced insights. While historically studies have often focused on individual types of CNM, such as swinging (Ruzansky & Harrison, 2019) and polyamory (Balzarini et al., 2021), other research has begun to view CNM relationships more broadly (Baldwin et al., 2019; Brooks et al., 2021; Garner et al., 2019).…”

“…Further studies have shown similar results, with no difference between monogamy and CNM, and positive results for relationship satisfaction and well‐being in CNM relationships (Brooks et al., 2021; Conley et al., 2017; Cox et al., 2021; Fairbrother et al., 2019; Murphy et al., 2021). One study with a combined sample found that CNM individuals were satisfied with their relationship, with no differences across types of CNM (Garner et al., 2019). Future research could benefit from ongoing research with CNM as a group, for example, to investigate similarities across types of CNM, as the differences between the types of CNM are better understood.…”