Attitudes Toward and Willingness to Engage in Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) Among African Americans Who Have Never Engaged in CNM.

Publisher: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 1273516 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-2800 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00040002 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Arch Sex Behav Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 1999- : New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers
Original Publication: New York, Plenum Pub. Corp.

Black or African American* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases*; Adolescent ; Adult ; Attitude ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Young Adult

Research on consensual non-monogamy (CNM) has largely focused on CNM behavior, while less attention has been given to attitudes toward and willingness to engage in CNM. Additionally, the study of CNM among African Americans is underexplored. Through an online survey study, we examined the correlates of attitudes toward and willingness to engage in CNM among African Americans who have never engaged in CNM, as attitudes and willingness provide insight into future behavior and stigmatization of CNM. We also assessed open-ended responses of reasons given for considering or not considering CNM engagement. A total of 904 African Americans between the ages of 18-40 participated in this study. Regressions were utilized to determine the correlates of attitudes toward and willingness to engage in CNM. Sexual orientation and gender were significant predictors of attitudes toward CNM. Age, sexual orientation, and gender were significant predictors of willingness to engage in CNM. Qualitative analyses revealed three themes among those who have considered engaging in CNM: (1) always been curious or had fantasies about trying a threesome, swinging, or open relationship, (2) thinks it would be fun, provides excitement, and can improve the relationship, and (3) would consider it under the right circumstances. Most participants reported never considering CNM engagement for the following reasons: (1) CNM is inconsistent with religious beliefs, morals, or values, (2) is just not for me, (3) it's the same as cheating, (4) committed to partner, (5) the belief that CNM increases risk of HIV/STIs, and (6) that CNM causes drama.
(© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Balzarini, R. N., Dharma, C., Kohut, T., Holmes, B. M., Campbell, L., Lehmiller, J. J., & Harman, J. J. (2019). Demographic comparison of American individuals in polyamorous and monogamous relationships. Journal of Sexual Research, 56(6), 681–694.
Bay-Cheng, L. Y., St. Vil, N. M., & Ginn, H. (2020). Young women’s sexuality in Black and White: Racial differences in appraisals of sexually active young women. Journal of Sex Research, 57(3), 296–306.
Bonello, K., & Cross, M. C. (2009). Gay monogamy: I love you but I can’t have sex with only you. Journal of Homosexuality, 57(1), 117–139.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
Burleigh, T. J., Rubel, A. N., & Meegan, D. V. (2017). Wanting ‘the whole loaf’: Zero-sum thinking about love is associated with prejudice against consensual non-monogamists. Psychology and Sexuality, 8(1–2), 24–40.
Chapman, A. B. (1991). Man sharing: Dilemma or choice, a radical new way of relating to the man in your life. Kayode Publications.
Cohen, M. T. (2016). The perceived satisfaction derived from various relationship configurations. Journal of Relationship Research, 7(e10). https://doi.org/10.1017/jrr.2016.12.
Cohen, M. T., & Wilson, K. (2017). Development of the Consensual Non-Monogamy Attitude Scale (CNAS). Sexuality and Culture, 21, 1–14.
Collins, P. H. (2004). Black sexual politics: African Americans, gender, and the new racism. Routledge.
Conley, T. D., Moors, A. C., Mastick, J. L., & Ziegler, A. (2013a). The fewer the merrier? Assessing stigma surrounding consensually non-monogamous romantic relationships. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 13(1), 1–30.
Conley, T. D., Moors, A. C., Ziegler, A., & Karathanasis, C. (2012). Unfaithful individuals are less likely to practice safer sex than openly nonmonogamous individuals. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9(6), 1559–1565.
Conley, T. D., Moors, A. C., Ziegler, A., Matstick, J. L., & Rubin, J. (2013b). Condom use errors among sexually unfaithful consensually nonmongamous individuals. Sexual Health, 10(5), 463–464. (PMID: 23726742)
Conley, T. D., Ziegler, A., Moors, A. C., Matsick, J. L., & Valentine, B. (2012). A critical examination of popular assumptions about the benefits and relationship outcomes of monogamous relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 12(2), 124–141.
Dixon, P. (2002). We want for our sisters what we have for ourselves, polygyny copartnering: A relationship, marriage and family alternative. Oji Publications.
Grollman, E. A. (2017). Sexual orientation differences in attitudes about sexuality, race, and gender. Social Science Research, 61, 126–141.
Grov, C., Starks, T. J., Rendina, H. J., & Parsons, J. (2014). Rules about casual sex partners, relationship satisfaction, and HIV risk in partnered gay and bisexual men. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 40(2), 105–122. (PMID: 23768194)
Haupert, M. L., Gesselman, A. N., Moors, A. C., Fisher, H. E., & Garcia, J. R. (2017). Prevalence of experiences with consensual nonmonogamous relationships: Findings from two national samples of single Americans. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 43(5), 424–440. (PMID: 27096488)
Hutzler, K. T., Giuliano, T. A., Herselman, J. R., & Johnson, S. M. (2016). Three’s a crowd: Public awareness and (mis)perceptions of polyamory. Psychology and Sexuality, 7(2), 69–87.
Kimberly, C., & Hans, J. D. (2017). From fantasy to reality: A grounded theory of experiences in the swinging lifestyle. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(3), 789–799. (PMID: 26597644)
Kurwa, R. (2020). The new man in the house rules: How the regulation of housing vouchers turns personal bonds into eviction liabilities. Housing Policy Debate, 30, 926–949.
Levine, E. C., Herbenick, D., Martinez, O., Fu, T., & Dodge, B. (2018). Open relationships, nonconsensual nonmonogamy, and monogamy among U.S. adults: Findings from the 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(5), 1439–1450. (PMID: 296965525958351)
Moors, A. C. (2017). Has the American public’s interest in information related to relationships beyond “The Couple” increased over time? Journal of Sex Research, 54(6), 677–684. (PMID: 27215273)
Moors, A. C., Conley, T. D., Edelstein, R. S., & Chopik, W. J. (2015). Attached to monogamy? Avoidance predicts willingness to engage (but not actual engagement) in consensual non-monogamy). Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32(2), 222–240.
Moors, A. C., Mastick, J. L., Ziegler, A., Rubin, J. D., & Conley, T. D. (2013). Stigma toward individuals engaged in consensual nonmonogamy: Robust and worth of additional research. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 13(1), 52–69.
Moors, A. C., Rubin, J. D., Matsick, J. L., Ziegler, A., & Conley, T. D. (2014). It’s not just a gay thing: Sexual minority women and men are equally attracted to consensual non-monogamy. Journal für Psychologie, 22, 38–51.
Moors, A. C., Selterman, D. F., & Conley, T. D. (2017). Personality correlates of desire to engage in consensual non-monogamy among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Journal of Bisexuality, 17(4), 418–434.
Parsons, J. T., Starks, T. J., Gamarel, K. E., & Grov, C. (2012). Non-monogamy and sexual relationship quality among same-sex male couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(5), 669–677. (PMID: 22906124)
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2008). How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice? Metanalytic tests of three mediators. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38(6), 922–934.
Rubin, J. D., Moors, A. C., Matsick, J. L., Ziegler, A., & Conley, T. D. (2014). On the margins: Considering diversity among consensually non-monogamous relationships. Journal für Psychologie, 22(1), 19–37.
Sizemore, K. M., & Olmstead, S. B. (2017). A systemic review on attitudes towards and willingness to engage in consensual non-monogamy among emerging adults: Methodological issues considered. Psychology and Sexuality, 8(1–2), 4–23.
Sizemore, K. M., & Olmstead, S. B. (2018). Willingness of emerging adults to engage in consensual non-monogamy: A mixed-methods analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(5), 1423–1438. (PMID: 28986760)
St. Vil, N. M. (2015). A culture of mutual support: The impact of giving and receiving of practical and emotional support on African American marital satisfaction. Journal of Family Social Work, 18(2), 78–89. (PMID: 276422435026227)
St. Vil, N. M., Bay-Cheng, L., & Ginn, H. (2020). Perceptions of monogamy, nonconsensual nonmonogamy and consensual nonmonogamy at the intersections of race and gender. Culture, Health, and Sexuality, 24(1), 109–124.
St. Vil, N. M., Leblanc, N., Bleasdale, J., Przybyla, S., & Wilson, K. (2021a). An analysis of safe sex practices and sexual histories among African Americans in non-monogamous and monogamous relationships. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01130-4.
St. Vil, N. M., Leblanc, N., & Giles, K. (2021b). The who and why of consensual nonmonogamy among African Americans. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(3), 1143–1150. (PMID: 33237383)
St. Vil, N. M., McDonald, K. B., & Cross-Barnett, C. (2018). A qualitative study of Black married couples’ relationships with their extended family networks. Families in Society, 99(1), 56–66.
St. Vil, N. M., St. Vil, C., & Fairfax, C. N. (2019). Postraumatic slave syndrome, the patriarchal nuclear family structure, and African American male-female relationships. Social Work, 64(2), 139–146. (PMID: 30722067)
Thompson, A. E., Bagley, A. J., & Moore, E. A. (2018). Young men and women’s implicit attitudes toward consensually nonmonogamous relationships. Psychology and Sexuality, 9(2), 117–131.
Thompson, A. E., Hart, J., Stefaniak, S., & Harvey, C. (2018). Exploring heterosexual adults’ endorsement of the sexual double standard among initiators of consensually nonmonogamous relationship behaviors. Sex Roles, 79, 228–238.
United States Department of Labor, Office of Policy Planning and Research. (1965). The Negro family: The case for national action. U.S. Government Print Office.
Whitton, S. W., Weitbrecht, E. M., & Kuryluk, A. D. (2015). Monogamy agreements in male same-sex couples: Associations with relationship quality and individual well-being. Journals of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 14(1), 39–63.
Wilson, W. J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. University of Chicago Press.
Wood, J., Desmarais, S., Burleigh, T., & Milhausen, R. (2018). Reasons for sex and relational outcomes in consensually nonmonogamous and monogamous relationships: A self-determination theory approach. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(4), 632–654.

Keywords: African Americans; Attitudes; Consensual non-monogamy; Willingness

Date Created: 20220301 Date Completed: 20220316 Latest Revision: 20221207

20240104

10.1007/s10508-021-02268-2

35230564