Reasons for sex and relational outcomes in consensually nonmonogamous and monogamous relationships
A self-determination theory approach
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2932615 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jessica Wood (0000-0002-0789-3310, University of Guelph, corresponding author), Serge Desmarai (0000-0003-3485-3303, University of Guelph), Serge Desmarais (University of Guelph), Tyler Burleigh (Institute for the Study of Decision Making, New York University, New York, USA), Robin R Milhausen (0000-0003-2791-9626, University of Guelph), Robin Milhausen (University of Guelph) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 632-654 |
| Publication date | 2018-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0265407517743082 |
| OpenAlex | W2793803573 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 36 |
| References cited | 108 |
Approximately 4% of individuals in North America participate in consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships, wherein all partners have agreed to additional sexual and/or emotional partnerships. The CNM relationships are stigmatized and viewed as less stable and satisfying than monogamous relationships, a perception that persists despite research evidence. In our study, we assess the legitimacy of this negative perception by using a self-determination theory (SDT) framework to explore how sexual motivation impacts relational and sexual satisfaction among CNM and monogamous participants in romantic relationships. A total of 348 CNM ( n = 142) and monogamous participants ( n = 206) were recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk. (2016). www.mturk.com ) to complete a cross-sectional survey. Participants reported on their sexual motivations during their most recent sexual event, their level of sexual need fulfillment, and measures of sexual and relational satisfaction with their current (primary) partner. The CNM and monogamous participants reported similar reasons for engaging in sex, though CNM participants were significantly more likely to have sex for personal intrinsic motives. No differences in mean levels of relationship and sexual satisfaction were found between CNM and monogamous individuals. Participants who engaged in sex for more self-determined reasons reported increased relational and sexual satisfaction. This relationship was mediated by sexual need fulfillment; participants who reported more self-determined motives reported higher levels of need fulfillment and, in turn, greater relationship and sexual satisfaction. This study indicates that CNM and monogamous individuals report similar levels of satisfaction within their relationship(s) and that the mechanisms that affect relational and sexual satisfaction are similar for both CNM and monogamous individuals. Our research extends theoretical understandings of motivation within romantic relationships and suggests that SDT is a useful framework for considering the impact of sexual motivation on relational outcomes
Affect (linguistics · Developmental psychology · Human sexuality · Perception · Sexual desire · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Sexual function and dysfunction studies · Social Psychology
One fits all? A person-centred analysis of experiences and practices in consensual non-monogamous relationships
When a Partner Supports Your Sexual Autonomy
Countering the ‘monogamy-superiority’ myth
Sameness and Difference in Psychological Research on Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships
The Impact of Autonomous and Controlled Sexting Motivations on Subjective Well-being and Relationship Quality
Motivation When Desire Is Low
With or Without You
It’s The “Why”
The Who and Why of Consensual Nonmonogamy Among African Americans
A Narrative Review of the Dichotomy Between the Social Views of Non-Monogamy and the Experiences of Consensual Non-Monogamous People
The Discursive Construction of Polyamory
Identifying Context-Related Socio-Cultural Predictors of Negative Attitudes Toward Polyamory
Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) – Considering Sexual Minorities and Moving Away from a Dyadic Conceptualization
An Analysis of Sex Practices and Behaviors Among African Americans in Sexually Concurrent and Sexually Exclusive Relationships
Well-being in romantic relationships
The Development of a Measure Assessing U.S. Adults’ Motives for Marriage
The Vices and Virtues of Consensual Non-Monogamy
Much like skydiving, I would really rather avoid it if I can”
Socialized sexual values and meanings ascribed to sex as predictors of the experience of sex
Understanding Relationship Labels
Sexting for Singles and Couples
Countering the Monogamy-Superiority Myth
Delineating the Boundaries Between Nonmonogamy and Infidelity
Sexual Risk Taking Intentions Under the Influence of Relationship Motivation, Partner Familiarity, and Sexual Arousal
Motives between the Sheets
Being Responsive and Self-Determined When it Comes to Sex
Nurturance, Eroticism, and Relationship Satisfaction Among People in Monogamous and Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships
Are We Blinded by Desire? Relationship Motivation and Sexual Risk-Taking Intentions during Condom Negotiation
Does “Open” Rhyme with “Special”? Comparing Personality, Sexual Satisfaction, Dominance and Jealousy of Monogamous and Non-monogamous Practitioners
Attitudes Toward and Willingness to Engage in Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) Among African Americans Who Have Never Engaged in CNM
Are there “Better” and “Worse” Ways to be Consensually Non-Monogamous (CNM)
Examining the Role of Mononormative Beliefs, Stigma, and Internalized Consensual Non-Monogamy Negativity for Dehumanization
How Do People Maintain Consensual Non-Monogamy? An International Development and Validation of the Multiple Relationships Maintenance Scale
Motivations for Engaging in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships
Characteristics of Relationship Agreements and Associations with Relationship Functioning Among People with Diverse Relationship Structures
Reasons for sex and relational outcomes in consensually nonmonogamous and monogamous relationships
Handbook of Social Psychology
Unique and Shared Relationship Benefits of Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Relationships
A triangular theory of love.
Self-Determination Theory
Sexuality in the context of relationships.
Approach and Avoidance Motivation
A systematic review of sexual satisfaction
Facilitating optimal motivation and psychological well-being across life's domains.
Structural equation modeling with interchangeable dyads.
Development and Validation of a Brief Version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale With a Nonparametric Item Analysis Model.
Swinging
The Suffocation of Marriage
An introduction to hierarchical linear modeling
Getting It On Versus Getting It Over With
Non-monogamy and sexual relationship quality among same-sex male couples.
Participation bias in a sexuality survey
Approach and Avoidance Motivation in the Social Domain
Analyzing dyadic data with multilevel modeling versus structural equation modeling
On the Benefits of Giving as Well as Receiving Autonomy Support
Investigation of Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships
Self-determination theory as a fundamental theory of close relationships.
What Makes for a Good Day? Competence and Autonomy in the Day and in the Person
A Critical Examination of Popular Assumptions About the Benefits and Outcomes of Monogamous Relationships
This Is My Partner, and This Is My … Partner's Partner
Amazon's Mechanical Turk
On Happiness and Human Potentials
Keeping the Spark Alive
Poly/logue
Poly Economics—Capitalism, Class, and Polyamory
Polyamorous Families, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Slippery Slope
Polyamorous Women, Sexual Subjectivity and Power
Penguins and Polyamory
Need Fulfillment in Polyamorous Relationships
Development of a brief measure of attitudes towards polyamory
Agreements, rules and agentic fidelity in polyamorous relationships
A comparison of polyamorous and monoamorous persons
The Psychology of Survey Response
The Fewer the Merrier
Motivational Pursuits in the Context of Human Sexual Relationships
Approach and avoidance sexual motives
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Whatever happened to non-monogamies? Critical reflections on recent research and theory
Examining relationship quality across three types of relationship agreements
‘There Aren’t Words for What We Do or How We Feel So We Have To Make Them Up’
Sexual satisfaction in long‐term heterosexual relationships
Estimating Actor, Partner, and Interaction Effects for Dyadic Data Using PROC Mixed and HLM
Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being
Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being
Sexuality in Marriage, Dating, and Other Relationships
Parenthood and Marital Satisfaction
The privilege of perversities
Sexual satisfaction in committed relationships
Sexual Motives
Why Some Women Consent to Unwanted Sex With a Dating Partner
Research on the Nature and Determinants of Marital Satisfaction
Who Gives and Who Gets
The use of theory in sexuality research
Role of Sexual Self-Disclosure in the Sexual Satisfaction of Long-Term Heterosexual Couples
Psychological factors and the sexuality of pregnant and postpartum women
Individual differences in the experience of sexual motivation
Has the American Public’s Interest in Information Related to Relationships Beyond “The Couple” Increased Over Time
Development and Bicultural Validation of the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale
Volunteer bias in sexuality research using college student participants
Reasons for having and avoiding sex
Relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction
Within-person variation in security of attachment
An Exploratory Study of Spouse-Swapping
Women’s Motivations to Have Sex in Casual and Committed Relationships with Male and Female Partners
From Fantasy to Reality
Perceived Partner Responsiveness Mediates the Association Between Sexual and Marital Satisfaction
Longitudinal Associations Among Relationship Satisfaction, Sexual Satisfaction, and Frequency of Sex in Early Marriage
Differences between males and females in motives for engaging in sexual intercourse
Sexual Agreements Among Gay Male Couples
Sex and the Quality of Life in Denmark
Does Casual Sex Harm College Students’ Well-Being? A Longitudinal Investigation of the Role of Motivation
Sexual Motives, Gender, and Sexual Behavior
The Association Between Sexual Motives and Sexual Satisfaction
Correlates of Increased Sexual Satisfaction
Sexual Motivation and the Duration of Partnership
Measuring Marital Quality
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations
The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits
Self-determination and conflict in romantic relationships
The effect of the transition to parenthood on relationship quality
The role of need fulfillment in relationship functioning and well-being
Maintaining sexual desire in intimate relationships
Toward a motivational model of couple happiness
Subjective well-being
Prevalence of Extradyadic Sex in Male Couples of Mixed HIV Status and Its Relationship to Psychological Distress and Relationship Quality
Sexual need fulfillment and satisfaction in consensually nonmonogamous relationships
Reasons for sex and relational outcomes in consensually nonmonogamous and monogamous relationships
Attached to monogamy? Avoidance predicts willingness to engage (but not actual engagement) in consensual non-monogamy
Sexual satisfaction among individuals in monogamous and consensually non-monogamous relationships
In pursuit of 'good' sex
Commitment Processes in Close Relationships
Measuring Dyadic Adjustment
Lesbian Couples' Relationship Quality Across the Transition to Parenthood
The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children
Passionate and Companionate Love in Courting and Young Married Couples
Investigating the Structural Validity of Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scales Across Two Samples
| Unique citing works | 36 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 4,5 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2026 (9) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 36 |