Communication Patterns Among Male Couples with Open and Monogamous Agreements
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SPECIAL SECTION: CONSENSUAL NON-MONOGAMY
Communication Patterns Among Male Couples with Open and Monogamous Agreements Staci Gusakova1 · Kristi Chin2 · Esra Ascigil2 · Terri D. Conley1 · Deepalika Chakravarty3 · Torsten B. Neilands3 · Colleen C. Hoff4 · Lynae A. Darbes5 Received: 11 November 2019 / Revised: 5 August 2020 / Accepted: 13 August 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Male couples in open relationships tend to have as equally fulfilling relationships as monogamous male couples; however, less is known about communication differences between monogamous and open couples. Because couples with open agreements permit sex with outside partners, they must navigate different relationship issues than monogamous couples, and this can translate to differences in communication. We therefore examined differences between cisgender men in monogamous versus open relationships regarding communication about sexual agreements, safety agreements, breaking of sexual and safety agreements, the disclosure of broken sexual and safety agreements, and general relationship communication. Using a sample of 395 couples, we found that while certain aspects of communication are different for monogamous couples compared to open couples, similarities also exist. Specifically, we identified no differences in how explicitly couples discussed their sexual and safety agreements, attitudes toward communication about safety agreements, and mutual avoidance and withholding communication. However, monogamous couples had more positive attitudes toward communication about sexual agreements. The results were mixed on the perceived impact that broken safety agreements had on communication with the primary partner. Our results are interpreted with attention to relationship well-being and implications for safer sex practices. Keywords Male couples · Sexual agreements · Sexual orientation · Consensual non-monogamy
Introduction Agreements about sex within and outside a relationship are common among male couples (Hoff, Beougher, Chakravarty, Darbes, & Neilands, 2010).1 Whereas some men who have sex with 1 For the context of this paper, when we refer to couples we are referring specifically to male couples.
* Staci Gusakova [email protected] 1
Departments of Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Michigan, 530 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
2
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
3
Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
4
Center for Research and Education on Gender and Sexuality, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
5
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
men (MSM) choose to form monogamous sexual agreements in which sex with outside partners is typically not allowed, many MSM form open agreements that allow sex with out
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