Prevalence of Experiences With Consensual Nonmonogamous Relationships: Findings From Two National Samples of Single Americans.
Although academic and popular interest in consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) is increasing, little is known about the prevalence of CNM. Using two separate U.S. Census based quota samples of single adults in the United States (Study 1: n = 3,905; Study 2: n = 4,813), the present studies show that more than one in five (21.9% in Study 1; 21.2% in Study 2) participants report engaging in CNM at some point in their lifetime. This proportion remained constant across age, education level, income, religion, region, political affiliation, and race, but varied with gender and sexual orientation. Specifically, men (compared to women) and people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (compared to those who identify as heterosexual) were more likely to report previous engagement in CNM. These findings suggest that a sizable and diverse proportion of U.S. adults have experienced CNM, highlighting the need to incorporate CNM into theoretical and empirical therapy and family science work.
a Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.|b The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.
M L
ML
Haupert
b The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.
Amanda N
AN
Gesselman
c Department of Women's Studies and National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
Amy C
AC
Moors
b The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.|d Department of Anthropology , Rutgers University , New Brunswick , New Jersey , USA.
Helen E
HE
Fisher
b The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.|e Department of Gender Studies , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.
Justin R
JR
Garcia
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States