A look at “Countering the Monogamy-Superiority Myth: A Meta-Analysis of the Differences in Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction as a Function of Relationship Orientation” by Joel R. Anderson, Jordan D. X. Hinton, Alena Bondarchuk-McLaughlin, Scarlet Rosa, Kian Jin Tan and Lily Moor (2026)
Throughout this series, we’ve met plenty of studies hinting that people in consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships are just as happy as monogamous folk. We’ve also met one that complicated the picture (“A Plot Twist in the Polyamory Story: Minority Stress and Mental Health”). So it’s time to bring out the big guns: a meta-analysis, which pools the results of many studies to get a clearer overall answer. Drumroll, please.
What they found
The researchers searched six research databases and also called for unpublished data, so the results wouldn’t be skewed towards studies with exciting findings. They found 35 studies involving nearly 24,500 people, comparing monogamous and non-monogamous people on relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction.
The headlines:
- Relationship satisfaction: no difference. Monogamous and non-monogamous people were, on average, equally satisfied with their relationships.
- Sexual satisfaction: no difference. The same was true for satisfaction with their sex lives.
- This held across the board. It didn’t matter whether samples were LGBTQIA+ or heterosexual, or whether people were in open relationships, polyamorous relationships or “monogamish” ones (mostly monogamous with occasional exceptions). It also didn’t matter which aspect of satisfaction was measured: trust, commitment, intimacy and so on.
- No sign of publication bias, meaning the findings don’t seem to be distorted by only “interesting” results being published.
In the authors’ words, this provides “robust evidence to dispel the monogamy-superiority myth”. Neither relationship style is inherently more satisfying than the other.
A grain of glitter ✨
This is a well-conducted meta-analysis, and the inclusion of unpublished data is a real strength. But a meta-analysis is only as good as the studies it combines.
Most of the included studies recruited non-monogamous participants through social networks and online snowball sampling. Only two used nationally representative samples. Non-monogamous people who volunteer for research may be those with happier experiences, and people in stigmatised groups may feel some pressure to present their relationships positively. All the studies relied on self-report. The analysis also didn’t explore differences within polyamorous structures, such as how primary and secondary partners might feel differently.
It’s worth noting, too, that “no difference on average” is about satisfaction, not about everything. It doesn’t rule out the extra stress that stigma can bring (see “A Plot Twist in the Polyamory Story”). Arguably, that makes the equal satisfaction even more impressive.
Why this matters
If you’ve ever been told, or quietly feared, that non-monogamous relationships are second-best, here’s some solid evidence that they’re not. The same goes the other way: monogamy isn’t old-fashioned or less fulfilling either. What matters is finding the relationship structure that genuinely fits you and your partner(s), and nurturing it with care.
One stablemate or several: the research says the hay is equally sweet. Choose the paddock that suits your hooves.