In a revelation that challenges some of our most deeply rooted beliefs about love, fidelity, and happiness, a new study has found that people in non-monogamous relationships—such as open arrangements or polyamory—are just as content as those who commit to a single partner.
Published in The Journal of Sex Research, the study upends the long-standing notion that monogamy is the superior path to romantic and sexual fulfillment.
Drawing from a vast pool of data—35 separate studies conducted across the United States and Europe, involving around 25,000 participants—the researchers found no meaningful difference in overall relationship satisfaction or sexual contentment between monogamous and consensually non-monogamous partnerships.
The results held steady across different identities and arrangements: heterosexual or LGBTQ+, open relationships or polyamorous ones. The patterns were consistent.
“Monogamous relationships are often seen as the gold standard—supposedly offering greater satisfaction, intimacy, commitment, passion, and trust,” explained lead researcher Professor Joel Anderson. “But that’s largely a social narrative fueled by stereotypes and media portrayals—not necessarily by evidence.”
Indeed, the findings directly challenge what Anderson calls “the myth of monogamy’s superiority.” According to him, the research demonstrates that non-traditional relationship structures can offer emotional grounding and sexual satisfaction that are no less rich or meaningful than conventional models.
In much of the Western world, monogamy still enjoys default status. Most people pair off with just one partner, assuming that exclusivity is the key to fulfillment. But as the study suggests, human intimacy may be more varied—and more flexible—than that.
“Our findings challenge common misconceptions about non-monogamy and show that people in such relationships experience similar levels of satisfaction, just like those in monogamous couples.”
Non-monogamous relationships span a wide spectrum. In some, partners maintain emotional exclusivity but explore sexual connections outside the relationship. In others, like polyamory, people build multiple romantic relationships at once—with full transparency and the informed consent of everyone involved.
For Anderson, these findings are a call to reframe how we view love and the people who live it differently. “Romantic and sexual satisfaction are key components of our mental well-being. Our findings challenge common misconceptions about non-monogamy and demonstrate that people in these types of relationships enjoy similar levels of fulfillment to monogamous couples.”
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Still, the picture isn’t entirely rosy. Many non-monogamous individuals face stigma, legal ambiguity, and unequal access to healthcare or social services. Society may be evolving, but judgment often lingers.
“What’s remarkable,” Anderson concluded, “is that people in non-monogamous relationships report excellent bonds and fulfilling sex lives—even though society often scrutinizes their lifestyle under a magnifying glass, and sometimes treats them unfairly, simply because they chose to love differently.”