Non-monogamy and sexual relationship quality among same-sex male couples. 2012

Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
Department of Psychology, Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu

Relationship arrangements about sex with outside partners are common among gay couples, and meaningful distinctions in psychological and behavioral health correlates have been found among nonmonogamous agreement types. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual agreements and partners' sexual relationship quality. Data were collected from both members of 161 gay male couples (n = 322 individuals). Couples were categorized as monogamous (52.8%), open (13.0%), monogamish (14.9%), and discrepant (19.3%). We used the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to assess associations of relationship arrangement with four aspects of sexual relationship quality: sexual satisfaction, sexual communication, sexual jealousy, and the occurrence of at-least weekly sex between main partners. We found that sexual arrangements were not associated with sexual satisfaction, communication, or frequency. However, monogamous men reported significantly higher levels of sexual jealousy. Our findings indicate that gay men engage in a range of relationship agreements, and nonmonogamous agreements are associated with levels of sexual relationship quality equivalent to monogamous agreements.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007398 Interpersonal Relations The reciprocal interaction of two or more persons. Social Relationships,Husband-Wife Communication,Partner Communication,Communication, Husband-Wife,Communication, Partner,Husband Wife Communication,Husband-Wife Communications,Interpersonal Relation,Partner Communications,Relation, Interpersonal,Relationship, Social,Social Relationship
D007578 Jealousy An irrational reaction compounded of grief, loss of self-esteem, enmity against the rival and and self-criticism. Envy
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009518 New York State bounded on the north by Lake Ontario and Canada, on the east by Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and on the west by Pennsylvania, Lake Erie, and Canada.
D010549 Personal Satisfaction The individual's experience of a sense of fulfillment of a need or want and the quality or state of being satisfied. Life Satisfaction,Satisfaction,Life Satisfactions,Satisfaction, Life,Satisfaction, Personal,Satisfactions, Life
D003142 Communication The exchange or transmission of ideas, attitudes, or beliefs between individuals or groups. Miscommunication,Misinformation,Social Communication,Communication Programs,Communications Personnel,Personal Communication,Communication Program,Communication, Personal,Communication, Social,Communications, Social,Miscommunications,Misinformations,Personnel, Communications,Program, Communication,Programs, Communication,Social Communications
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
September 2010, Journal of sex research,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
August 2006, Personality & social psychology bulletin,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
December 2016, Culture, health & sexuality,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
January 2019, Journal of lesbian studies,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
June 2022, JMIR research protocols,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
August 2019, Drug and alcohol dependence,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
November 2020, AIDS and behavior,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
August 2014, Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43),
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
February 2023, The Gerontologist,
Jeffrey T Parsons, and Tyrel J Starks, and Kristi E Gamarel, and Christian Grov
January 2018, Journal of relationships research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!