Open Relationship Research
According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, couples who are in open relationships are just as happy as folks who are in monogamous ones.
Scientists researched the relationships of 2,100 participants over 25. According to the numbers, 1,500 described their relational status as monogamous. The remaining 600 classified themselves as “committed, non-monogamous”.
When investigators assessed how deeply these couples loved and how satisfied they were, there appeared to be no differences between the two groups.
However, levels of trust were higher and feelings of jealousy lower among those involved in committed, open relationships.
If you believe the research and are a person who wants less jealousy and more trust in your love life (who doesn't), it looks like opening up your relationship is a viable option!
So is that what you should do?
Probably not. That's because it's hard to generalize research studies to the wider population. What’s more, there are other aspects of this study that are important to remember.
Here's one: people involved in open situations were significantly less satisfied and less committed to their relationships when compared to their monogamous counterparts.
That’s kind of a biggie, don’t you think?
It’s important to keep in mind the study, conducted by University of Michigan Associate Professor of Psychology and Women's Studies Terri Conley, looked at heterosexual couples only.
Research conducted exclusively with gay male couples in open relationships seems to suggest different outcomes. Specifically, open gay couples may experience greater feelings of closeness.
More: Research on gay men in open relationships
There’s also some evidence to suggest that gay men are more likely move towards “open” the longer their relationship continues. Be sure to read this fascinating study put out by the University of New South Wales. They dive deep into the topic!
With that shared, Dr. Conley’s research could help to shed light on the larger question of “open” vs. “monogamous”.
Here’s what she said in a press release after the study was released:
“Overall, the outcomes for monogamous and consensual non-monogamous participants were the same – indicating no net benefit of one relationship style over another.”
More: Young gay men and relationship hopes (Study)
Obviously, the choice to be monogamous or open is highly personal. But this study does suggest that happiness can be found in both types.
