The last decade has seen an increase in public and academic interest in consensual non-monogamy (CNM). CNM involves sexual and/or romantic relationships between multiple partners, with the consent of all individuals involved. Engagement in CNM is estimated at 5% of the general population, although due to stigma with the strong idealisation of monogamy in many cultures, it is a hidden population. This qualitative study explores the motivations, benefits, and challenges experienced in CNM relationships, an area that has been understudied despite the resurgence of interest in it. While previous research has mainly focused on comparisons between CNM and monogamy or individual types of CNM such as polyamory, this study seeks to provide a broader understanding of CNM relationships. We employ a critical realist framework and thematically analyse semi-structured interviews with eight participants. The results identify three overarching themes: mononormativity and cultural norms; growth and responsibility; and diversity and complexity; each has several subthemes. These findings suggest that CNM provides opportunities for greater diversification of needs and increased community and individual growth. The study also highlights the challenges experienced in CNM relationships and the strategies used to manage them, such as personal responsibility for managing difficult emotions and temporarily closing a relationship at times for relationship security. A novel finding in this study is that some individuals involved in CNM have internalised cultural norms and the idealisation of monogamy and need to unlearn these norms. This study adds to the existing knowledge on CNM and is expected to be of interest to clinicians and researchers seeking to understand its motivations, benefits, and challenges. Relationship therapists will benefit from increased knowledge of how to work with clients interested or engaged in CNM relationships. Overall, this study supports previous findings that CNM is a viable, enjoyable, yet sometimes challenging type of relationship.

中文翻译：

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“这是你们关系的放大镜”：对双方同意的非一夫一妻制关系中的动机、好处和挑战进行主题分析

过去十年，公众和学术界对自愿非一夫一妻制 (CNM) 的兴趣有所增加。 CNM 涉及多个伴侣之间的性和/或浪漫关系，并获得所有相关个人的同意。据估计，参与 CNM 的人占总人口的 5%，尽管由于许多文化中对一夫一妻制的强烈理想化的耻辱，它是一个隐藏的人群。这项定性研究探讨了 CNM 关系中经历的动机、好处和挑战，尽管人们对这一领域的兴趣重新燃起，但该领域的研究仍然不足。虽然之前的研究主要集中在 CNM 与一夫一妻制或个别类型的 CNM（例如多角恋）之间的比较，但本研究旨在提供对 CNM 关系的更广泛的理解。我们采用批判现实主义框架，并对八名参与者进行半结构化访谈进行主题分析。结果确定了三个首要主题：单一规范性和文化规范；成长与责任；以及多样性和复杂性；每个都有几个子主题。这些发现表明，CNM 为需求更加多样化以及促进社区和个人成长提供了机会。该研究还强调了 CNM 关系中遇到的挑战以及用于管理这些挑战的策略，例如管理困难情绪的个人责任以及有时为了关系安全而暂时关闭关系。这项研究的一个新发现是，一些参与 CNM 的人已经内化了文化规范和一夫一妻制的理想化，并且需要忘记这些规范。这项研究补充了 CNM 的现有知识，预计会引起寻求了解其动机、益处和挑战的临床医生和研究人员的兴趣。关系治疗师将受益于如何与对 CNM 关系感兴趣或参与的客户合作的更多知识。总的来说，这项研究支持了之前的发现，即 CNM 是一种可行的、令人愉快的、但有时具有挑战性的关系类型。