Article

An On-Line Survey Comparing Swingers and Polyamorists

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a more current portrait of swingers and to compare them with polyamorists. I will also compare these two groups with those who are neither swingers nor polyamorists. The study was conducted on-line with approximately 1400 individuals responding. Of these, 174 identified as swingers and 34 were polyamorists. As in previous studies, swingers were found to be in their thirties and forties, white, and middle and upper-middle in social class. However, they were more Democratic and liberal than in earlier studies. They also had low levels of religious identification and attendance. Polys, compared to the swingers, were significantly more Democratic and liberal, significantly less religious, and more "spiritual." Polys were significantly more likely to find abortion, and gay marriage acceptable and less likely to find the death penalty acceptable. Polyamorists also were more likely to seek out therapy. They were also the most likely to agree that they would like to change some aspect of their lives but also said their lives were close to their ideal and ranked the highest on a 1-10 scale of happiness, although the difference was not significant. Both the swingers and the polys were significantly less likely to be a church member or to believe in a traditional God as compared to a general sample. The two groups also were significantly more likely to say that abortion, divorce and gay marriage were acceptable and significantly less likely to say that the death penalty was acceptable. Swingers and polys were more likely to say that they needed some counseling and more likely than the general sample to say they were satisfied with their emotional and mental states.

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... Participants' profile. The participants' pro le is more varied than previously published studies (5,22,23) but aligns with more recent ones (22,37), having more diverse samples. Particular attention was paid to how the participants were recruited to try to overcome the "artifact e ect of communitybased strategies that have created an inaccurate re ection of people who engage in CNM" (25, p. 1). ...
... Particular attention was paid to how the participants were recruited to try to overcome the "artifact e ect of communitybased strategies that have created an inaccurate re ection of people who engage in CNM" (25, p. 1). As the study's sample was located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, their characteristics may di er than those from other parts of Canada and even the United States (11,23,24,26). Overall, there appears to be a greater acceptance of sexual diversity in Canada and elsewhere, including the swinging culture (25). ...
... Despite these challenges, all participants found ways of dealing with their situations and using strategies to reach a new level of adjustment. Jenks (23) posits that polyamorists and swingers are pushed to communicate and nd new coping methods as no social norms exist. The polyamorous participants appear to have fared better, which could partially be explained by a greater distribution of resources between the parents. ...
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This article presents partial results of a larger mixed methods study about consensual non-monogamists’ perceptions of their parenting and sexual lifestyle, particularly those involving the transition to parenthood, intimacy and communication. Using The Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice lens, six participants completed an online questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide. Consensual non-monogamists are like other parents, yet they prioritise sexual intimacy over emotional intimacy. Communication is very important for them. The quantitative results support the qualitative ones: the participants had a higher level of parenting sense of competence, and the means for emotional and sexual intimacy were lower for primary partners than for secondary ones. Perinatal health care professionals including nurses need to know more about parenting consensual non-monogamists and their partner(s). More research is warranted with this particular group of parents, especially on their experiences of minority stress, resilience and taking a more intersectional research approach.
... The fi ndings that have just been highlighted are compared to those reported in the literature in terms of those that are similar, the ones that are contrary, and the others that are distinct. A part of these fi ndings in the present study in which the participants were found to be health-focused is supported by those published in the Jenks study (25). The participants in the Jenks study [25] did seek out mental health care and counselling services when needed. ...
... A part of these fi ndings in the present study in which the participants were found to be health-focused is supported by those published in the Jenks study (25). The participants in the Jenks study [25] did seek out mental health care and counselling services when needed. However, the other fi ndings reported here are different from those presented by Fernandes [26] and by O'Byrne and Watts [5]. ...
... This fear is similar to that reported by other researchers. [7,25,28] The fi ndings that were published by these three studies [7,25,28] indicate that their respondents did not want their children to be treated differently in school, have their lifestyle negatively affect their various sexual opportunities, and have their children taken away as they did not abide by heteromononormativity. HCPs need to be aware that this sexual minority has these two particular fears. ...
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Consensual non-monogamous parenting couples are at increased risk for health inequities, especially during the transition to parenthood. This article presents partial results of a more extensive mixed-methods study exploring the conciliation of these couples’ parenting role and their sexual lifestyle, more specifically, their perceptions of health care providers including nurses. Semi-structured interviews and online questionnaires were completed with a total of 6 participants. Positive and negative issues were identified that were clients- and health care providers-based. The Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice lens was used to discuss the positive and negative consequences. Nurses need to develop, implement and evaluate a different clinical approach with these couples, who are aware of the health risks associated with their lifestyle, yet they always put their families first. Nurse administrators need to assess their institutional policies that are based on hetero-mononormative assumptions.
... Six studies have gathered data about the spiritual or religious identities of polyamorous people (Balzarini et al., 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, Religion and Consensual Nonmonogamy 2001; Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007), but no studies to date have investigated how spiritual identities and philosophical perspectives inform the practices of those who are openly and consensually partnered with multiple people simultaneously. Moreover, because transpersonal theorists have discussed the relevance of nonmonogamous paradigms of loving to spiritual development and self-actualization (e.g., Ferrer, 2007;Welwood, 1985Welwood, , 1996, this study also examines the degree to which nonmonogamous sexual behavior and spirituality are linked. ...
... T here is limited research on the religious and spiritual identities of people who engage in consensual nonmonogamy (Balzarini et al., 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, 2001;Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). Existing literature focuses on prevalence, behaviors, and effects of stigma Haupert et al., 2017). ...
... Existing literature focuses on prevalence, behaviors, and effects of stigma Haupert et al., 2017). Some data has been gathered on demographic factors such as race, sexual orientation, gender, income bracket, and educational level of consensually nonmonogamous people, but little exists on the religious and spiritual orientations of this population (Jenks, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). The six aforementioned studies that examined religion in multiply partnered people used specifically polyamorous samples (Balzarini et al., 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, 2001;Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007); two of these studies were not peer-reviewed (Nearing, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). ...
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Consensual nonmonogamy refers to the variety of ways people partner romantically and/or sexually with multiple others. This study examined the spiritual identities of people who self-identify as consensually and openly partnered with more than one person, as well as if and how these identities changed since childhood. Moreover, to deepen previous transpersonal research that investigated how nonmonogamous paradigms of loving contribute to spiritual development, the study also examined between group differences of whether nonmonogamous sexual behavior and spirituality are emotionally linked. Data were gathered from 484 participants; they were mostly college-educated, Caucasian, bisexual women in their 30s, who were raised in moderately conservative, Judeo-Christian households. The majority self-identified as polyamorous. Between-group differences tests revealed that participants reported lower degrees of religiosity and greater degrees of liberalism since childhood, and a change from more traditional to nonreligious but spiritual values in adulthood. Data also suggested that pagan spiritualities may provide more supportive philosophical and spiritual frameworks that normalize and validate nonmonogamous behavior, nonheterosexual interests, sexual desire, and the sacredness of sexuality. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
... CNM relationships have characteristics that are typically considered healthy traits in monogamous relationships, such as individual selfconfidence, open communication, trust, and low jealousy (Kimberly & Hans, 2017;Wilt, Harrison, & Michael, 2018). Individuals who engage in CNM have similar qualities to monogamous individuals and view their relationships as normal loving relationships (Barker, 2005;Conley et al., 2017;Jenks, 1998Jenks, , 2014. engage in swinging. ...
... For example, surveying 342 swingers, Jenks (1985) found that they have an above average income and education and largely identified as middle-class. Jenks (2014) replicated these findings nearly three decades later. Moreover, swingers were typically affiliated with a religious organization (Jenks, 1985(Jenks, , 2014. ...
... Jenks (2014) replicated these findings nearly three decades later. Moreover, swingers were typically affiliated with a religious organization (Jenks, 1985(Jenks, , 2014. Rubin (2001) described swingers as stable, privileged, and ordinary vis-à-vis the finding that swingers are overwhelmingly middle-class, have typical religious and political identifications, and are employed. ...
Article
This study sought to examine the self-esteem of individuals involved in a consensually non-monogamous relationship, the swinging lifestyle. Utilizing the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the self-esteem of swingers was quantified and compared to a general sample. The results reveal that swingers have higher self-esteem. However, gender differences emerged in post hoc analyses whereby men who engage in swinging have higher self-esteem, but women who engage in swinging have self-esteem comparable to others. Results are discussed in terms of evolutionary and clinical importance. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.
... Polyamory is primarily focused on forming non-monogamous emotional bonds and polyamorists commonly define their relationships according to parental or domestic roles (Kleese, 2006;Serina, Hall, Ciambrone, & Phua, 2013). Swinging differs in that it is primarily focused on engaging in non-monogamous sexual experiences and swingers tend to define themselves by the type of sexual interactions they have with others (Jenks, 2014;Rubin, 2001). Although the extent to which the culture and practice of swinging pervades a couple's life varies across couples, swingers commonly refer to the behavior and corresponding culture of swinging as being a part of a lifestyle. ...
... However, most Americans classify CNM relationships as deviant; people tend to believe that those in monogamous relationships are happier, more sexually satisfied, and better citizens than are those in CNM relationships (Conley, Moors, Matsick, & Ziegler, 2013). Belying this stigmatized view of CNM relationships, however, swingers tend to have more years of formal education than the general population, are more likely than nonswingers to belong to religious organizations, are more satisfied with their marriages, and are no more likely than the general population to have experienced abuse or family dysfunction (Fernandes, 2009;Jenks, 2014;. ...
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Swinger couples-committed couples who consensually engage in extra-relational sex for recreational purposes-are difficult for researchers to access due to the social stigma associated with swinging. This study builds upon the limited research on swinger couples by examining personal experiences with swinging. Specifically, 32 semi-structured interviews with swingers (16 husband-wife dyads, interviewed separately) were analyzed using grounded theory methods to understand the process of transitioning into and maintaining marital satisfaction in the swinging lifestyle. The model formed included (a) antecedent steps taken to enter into the lifestyle, (b) types of desires fulfilled, (c) stated benefits of being in the lifestyle, and (d) rules that guided couples throughout the process. Although variations were found across couples, the effective use of verbal and non-verbal communication to increase sexual and marital satisfaction within these non-monogamous couples was paramount to their experiences.
... However, they also may reflect other differences in the characteristics of the two communities that could characterize responses to Covid-19. For instance, polyamorous individuals compared to swingers are more likely to identify under the LGBTQ umbrella (Balzarini et al., 2019), and tend to be more politically liberal (Jenks, 2014). Both LGBTQ identity (Salerno et al., 2020) and political identity (Collins et al., 2021) may shape reactions to Covid-19 in a number of ways. ...
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Using Owen’s Thematic Analysis, we reviewed the Reddit posts of participants in two online communities regarding consensual non-monogamy (CNM) during the January 2021 peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 5,209 comments, 465 unique users in the /polyamory and /swinging forums on the social media platform Reddit referred to the pandemic with two themes emerging as most salient. In the first theme, participants described, interpreted, and responded to the social limitations of the Covid-19 era, with particular attention to limitations on CNM identity and behavior during the pandemic. In the second theme, participants articulated concerns about individual and social health. In addition to strictly personal concerns about physical and mental health, participants described challenges to the well-being of relationships and communities and ways to manage risk and mitigate social damage. We discuss the implication of these findings in light of the unique social structure of CNM communities.
... The literature identifies that ~ 1-15% of couples have engaged in CNM, and that these persons are primarily 28-45 years old, white, heterosexual and cis-gendered (Bergstrand and Williams 2000;Jenks 1985Jenks , 1998. Studies also show that the persons who engage or have engaged in CNM have above average education and income, and supervisory and professional work roles (Houngbedji and Guillem 2016;Jenks 1985Jenks , 1998Jenks , 2014. In the CNM literature, polyamory, open relationships and swinging are most commonly explored (Platteau et al. 2017). ...
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Consensual non-monogamy is a specific subculture that includes swingers, persons in open relationships and those who are polyamorous. While most previous studies have sought to either detail the subcultural norms for these groups or assess their risks for sexually transmitted infections, we aimed to better understand the narratives of persons who engage in consensual non-monogamy. Our goal was to understand the structure and nature of their reported lifestyles, and to better understand these theoretically. To do this, we interviewed 14 persons (7 males, 7 females), and analysed their data thematically. We then discussed these findings using the works of Deleuze & Guattari and Gayle Rubin. Our analysis and discussion identified that consensual non-monogamy could be described as a series of Deleuzian becomings that were nevertheless stratified, and which aligned but differed from what Rubin called the charmed circle of sexuality.
... First, being that sexual prowess is a marker of masculinity, allowing one's female partner to do the same and have sex with someone else might be perceived as signalling that the man is no longer able to satisfy his partner (Overall, 1998). Furthermore, research on swinging culture has suggested that despite its historical associations with political conservatism (Bergstrand & Williams, 2000;Frank, 2008;Jenks, 2014), traditional gender ideologies are often openly challenged and criticised in these spaces (Bergstrand & Williams, 2000;Frank, 2008). Similarly, participating in polyamory requires men to engage with a culture that values emotional expression and requires emotional work, which is very much in opposition to traditional performances of masculinity which eschew emotionality (Dzitko, 2017). ...
... It is also important to note that we have replicated recent findings from Rubin and colleagues (2014), which challenged the prevailing belief that CNM (Jenks, 2014;Jenks, 1998) and polyamorous groups (Noël, 2006;Sheff, 2005;Sheff & Hammers, 2011;Wheeler, 2011) are homogenously White. We also found that participants in polyamorous relationships were more likely to be multiethnic compared to participants in monogamous relationships. ...
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Research on polyamorous relationships has increased substantially over the past decade. This work has documented how polyamory is practiced and why individuals might pursue such arrangements. However, there is a lack of a systematic investigation of who is in polyamorous relationships and how they might differ from individuals in monogamous relationships. The present study is one of the first to address this by comparing the demographic backgrounds of individuals in polyamorous (N = 2,428) and monogamous (N = 539) relationships in the United States. Compared to participants in monogamous relationships, those in polyamorous relationships were more likely to report minority sexual identities. Despite similar age distributions, individuals in polyamorous relationships were more likely to report being in a civil union, being divorced, and earning less than $40,000 per year compared to individuals in monogamous relationships. People in polyamorous relationships were also more likely to select “other” options for most demographic characteristics, suggesting that they tend to choose less traditional response options in general. The current research highlights several demographic differences that need to be considered and potentially controlled for in future comparisons of polyamorous and monogamous relationships.
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