How Do People Maintain Consensual Non-Monogamy? An International Development and Validation of the Multiple Relationships Maintenance Scale
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Maintaining multiple intimate relationships entails some risks and complications beyond exclusive pair bonding (i.e., monogamy). Consensual non-monogamy (CNM; e.g., polyamory, swinging, or open relationships) allegedly reduces these risks and complications, but no one has tried to comprehensively document typical CNM risk management practices, nor analyzed the relationship outcomes of those who use these practices. We developed the Multiple Relationships Maintenance Scale (MRMS) to examine how engagement in common CNM practices predicts relationship quality among people with one or more partners. In Study 1, a community sample of people with CNM experience (N = 429) nominated the best practices for maintaining CNM. Responses were combined with theory-derived practices to create the MRMS. In Study 2, we administered the MRMS in three international online surveys (N = 4,290) to assess factor structure and construct validity. Factor analysis revealed nine practices: disclosure of one's extra-pair attractions to a partner, open communication about jealousy, compersion, willingness to care for unrelated children, shared extra-pair sexual experiences, partner (non)hierarchy, sexual health maintenance, thoughtful resource distribution among partners, and reputation management. Data from one of the three surveys (n = 871) showed that each practice had distinctive patterns of association with previous CNM experience, relationship and sexual satisfaction, partner investment and interdependence, and self-reported infidelity (i.e., how often extra-pair interactions feel to violate an existing relationship's agreements). We discuss how the MRMS may be used to study how people in CNM relationships maintain multiple intimate relationships.
Source: Archives of Sexual Behavior
Authors: Justin K. Mogilski, Geoffrey F. Miller, Peter K. Jonason, Katarzyna Grunt-Mejer, Jaroslava Varella Valentova, Rhonda Balzarini, David L. Rodrigues, Elisabeth Sheff, Laith Al-Shawaf, Zsófia Csajbók, Andrew G. Thomas, Tamas David-Barrett, Cezar Giosan, Daniel J. Kruger, David J. Ley, Justin J. Lehmiller, Heath A. Schechinger, Amy C. Moors, Stefano Ciaffoni, Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, Stephen Whyte, Zuzana Štěrbová, Klára Bártová, Ryan G. Witherspoon, Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska, Pavol Prokop, Virgil Zeigler-Hill, David P. Schmitt, Adil S. Sarıbay, Magdalena Lipnicka, Ivana Goláňová, Ezra Hampikian, William Costello, Limor Gottlieb, Cory J. Cascalheira, Michelle A. Larva
Institutions: University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, University of New Mexico, VIZJA University, Uniwersytet SWPS, Universidade de São Paulo, Texas State University, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Charles University, Swansea University, University of Oxford, University of Bucharest, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, University of California, Berkeley, Chapman University, University of Bologna, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, Oakland University, Kansas State University, Kadir Has University, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, University of Cambridge, The University of Texas at Austin, Brunel University of London, New Mexico State University, University of Turku
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
Awards: G3308030280, G3906840119
OpenAlex ID: W7136258634