Moors Amy C, Gesselman Amanda N, Garcia Justin R
Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, United States.
Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States.
Front Psychol. 2021 Mar 23;12:619640. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619640. eCollection 2021.
Coupledom and notions of intimacy and family formation with one committed partner are hallmarks of family and relationship science. Recent national surveys in the United States and Canada have found that consensually non-monogamous relationships are common, though prevalence of specific types of consensual non-monogamy are unknown. The present research draws on a United States Census based quota sample of single adults ( = 3,438) to estimate the prevalence of desire for, familiarity with, and engagement in polyamory-a distinct type of consensually non-monogamous relationship where people typically engage in romantic love and sexual intimacy with multiple partners. Results show that 1 out of 6 people (16.8%) desire to engage in polyamory, and 1 out of 9 people (10.7%) have engaged in polyamory at some point during their life. Approximately 1 out of 15 people (6.5%) reported that they knew someone who has been or is currently engaged in polyamory. Among participants who were not personally interested in polyamory, 1 out of 7 (14.2%) indicated that they respect people who engage in polyamory. Few sociodemographic correlates emerged; no differences in prevalence were found based on political affiliation, income, religion, geographic region, or race/ethnicity. Sexual minorities, men, and younger adults reported greater desire to engage in polyamory (compared to heterosexuals, women, and older adults, respectively). Men and people with lower education backgrounds were more likely to have previously engaged in polyamory (compared to women and people with higher education backgrounds, respectively). Given that emotional and sexual intimacy is an important part of most people's lives, understanding the varied ways in which people navigate their intimate lives is critical for the fields of relationship, sexuality, and family science.
伴侣关系以及与一位忠诚伴侣建立亲密关系和组建家庭的观念是家庭与关系科学的标志。美国和加拿大近期的全国性调查发现，双方自愿的非一夫一妻制关系很常见，不过具体类型的双方自愿非一夫一妻制的流行程度尚不清楚。本研究基于美国人口普查抽取了一个单身成年人配额样本（n = 3438），以估计对多配偶制（一种独特的双方自愿非一夫一妻制关系，人们通常与多个伴侣建立浪漫爱情和性亲密关系）有渴望、熟悉程度和参与情况的流行程度。结果显示，每6个人中有1人（16.8%）渴望参与多配偶制，每9个人中有1人（10.7%）在其人生中的某个阶段参与过多配偶制。约每15个人中有1人（6.5%）报告称他们认识某个曾经或正在参与多配偶制的人。在对多配偶制个人不感兴趣的参与者中，每7个人中有1人（14.2%）表示他们尊重参与多配偶制的人。几乎没有出现社会人口统计学相关因素；在政治派别、收入、宗教、地理区域或种族/族裔方面未发现流行程度的差异。性少数群体、男性和年轻成年人报告称有更大的参与多配偶制的渴望（分别与异性恋者、女性和年长者相比）。男性和教育背景较低的人更有可能曾经参与多配偶制（分别与女性和教育背景较高的人相比）。鉴于情感和性亲密是大多数人生活的重要组成部分，了解人们驾驭其亲密生活的各种方式对于关系、性和家庭科学领域至关重要。
