{"id":2198032,"date":"2019-10-30T11:10:13","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T15:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.futurity.org\/?p=2198032"},"modified":"2019-11-01T08:29:36","modified_gmt":"2019-11-01T12:29:36","slug":"open-relationships-nonmonogamy-2198032-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.futurity.org\/open-relationships-nonmonogamy-2198032-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Open relationships vary\u2014as do their odds of working"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can an open relationship work? New research\u2014which identifies five types of such nonmonogamous arrangements\u2014says it depends.<\/p>\n

Open relationships typically describe couples in which the partners have agreed on sexual activity with someone other than their primary romantic partner, while maintaining the couple bond.<\/p>\n

“We know that communication is helpful to all couples,” says Ronald Rogge, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and head of the Rogge Lab, where the research took place.<\/p>\n

“However, it is critical for couples in nonmonogamous relationships as they navigate the extra challenges of maintaining a nontraditional relationship in a monogamy-dominated culture. Secrecy surrounding sexual activity with others can all too easily become toxic and lead to feelings of neglect, insecurity, rejection, jealousy, and betrayal, even in nonmonogamous relationships.”<\/p>\n

Open relationships vary<\/h3>\n

Past studies have attempted to gauge the success of nonmonogamous relationships. But the critical difference this time is that the research team considered distinctions and nuances within various types of nonmonogamous relationships, and then assessed the success of each type independently.<\/p>\n

As a result, their findings indicate no blanket conclusions about the prospects of nonmonogamous relationships; instead, the research, published in the Journal of Sex Research<\/em><\/a>, suggests conditions under which nonmonogamous relationships tend to succeed, and those under which relationships become strained.<\/p>\n

Rogge and colleagues analyzed responses from 1,658 online questionnaires. Among the respondents a majority (67.5%) were in their 20s and 30s, 78% of participants were white, nearly 70% identified as female, and most were in long-term relationships (on average nearly 4.5 years). The team assessed three key dimensions for each relationship\u2014applying what they call the “Triple-C Model” of mutual consent, communication, and comfort.<\/p>\n

5 kinds of open relationships<\/h3>\n

Significantly, they divided study participants into five distinct classes of relationships:<\/p>\n