**New Research Disputes the “Monogamy-Superiority Myth”**
Conversations regarding [non-monogamy](https://mashable.com/article/what-is-consensual-non-monogamy) have escalated online in recent times, partly fueled by the emergence of [hookup apps like Feeld](https://mashable.com/article/is-feeld-for-normies-vanilla-people-now), which facilitate exploration of different relationship dynamics.
Nonetheless, like any popular subject on the internet, non-monogamy has encountered its fair share of criticism. While some individuals are welcoming open relationships and polyamory, others are leaning towards more conventional ideals, such as the [tradwife movement](https://mashable.com/article/tradwife-feminism-tiktok), which romanticizes monogamy and matrimony. Even Feeld, in partnership with the Kinsey Institute, discovered that [a considerable number of young adults still fantasize about monogamy](https://mashable.com/article/gen-z-fantasizes-about-both-monogamy-and-kink-feeld-and-kinsey-institute).
### [How to Begin with Non-Monogamy](https://mashable.com/article/how-to-get-started-with-non-monogamy)
In spite of the ongoing discussion, new findings imply that monogamy may not be inherently superior to non-monogamy. An extensive review of 35 studies, encompassing over 24,000 participants globally, revealed no notable differences in relationship or sexual satisfaction between monogamous and non-monogamous individuals. The [peer-reviewed research](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2025.2462988), published in *The Journal of Sex Research*, shows that both categories report comparable levels of fulfillment in their romantic and sexual experiences.
These results were consistent across different demographics, including LGBTQ and heterosexual participants, as well as various types of non-monogamy, such as open relationships and polyamory. (For further details on these variations, refer to our [introduction to non-monogamy](https://mashable.com/article/what-is-consensual-non-monogamy).)
“Monogamous relationships are frequently regarded as offering higher levels of satisfaction, intimacy, commitment, passion, and trust compared to non-monogamous ones. This prevalent notion—what we refer to as the ‘monogamy-superiority myth’—is often bolstered by stereotypes and media representations,” stated lead author Joel Anderson, an associate professor and principal research fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sexuality, Health, and Society at La Trobe University.
“Our research challenges this entrenched belief beyond academic circles, providing additional evidence that individuals in consensually non-monogamous relationships report similar levels of satisfaction in their romantic and sexual lives as those in monogamous relationships,” Anderson noted.
### Limitations of the Study
While the research offers useful insights, it does come with certain limitations. The data collected was solely self-reported, meaning participants might have responded in ways that validated their individual choices. Furthermore, since the study relied on online sampling, its representativeness and generalizability might be somewhat restricted.
Despite these limitations, alternative relationship models continue to gain prominence, and discussions surrounding them are unlikely to diminish on social media in the near future.