Sameness and Difference in Psychological Research on Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships: The Need for
John K Sakaluk1, Christopher Quinn-Nilas2, Alexandra N Fisher3
1Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada. jksakaluk@gmail.com.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|August 30, 2020
Summary
Research on consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships shows many well-being measures lack consistency across relationship types. Methodological improvements are needed for accurate comparative studies in sexual science.
Area of Science:
- Sexual science research focusing on relationship structures and psychological well-being.
- Psychometric evaluation of measurement invariance and equivalence testing in social science.
Background:
- Comparative research on consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships and well-being is increasing.
- Valid comparisons require measurement invariance (concepts are same across groups) and equivalence testing (statistically coherent procedures).
- These assumptions are often under-appreciated in existing CNM research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the state of measurement invariance and equivalence testing in comparative CNM research.
- To assess the generalizability of well-being measures across different CNM relationship types and partner configurations.
- To identify methodological limitations and suggest reforms for future CNM studies.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted, analyzing primary individual data, primary dyadic data, and secondary data.
- Study 1 tested measurement invariance of well-being measures comparing CNM individuals to monogamous individuals.
- Study 2 assessed invariance for "primary" versus "secondary" partners within CNM relationships.
- Study 3 reanalyzed existing comparative CNM effects using individual and meta-analyzed equivalence tests.
Main Results:
- Many well-being measures failed to demonstrate measurement invariance across relationship types and partner types in Studies 1 and 2.
- Measures were often not generalizable, indicating potential differences in the social construction of well-being.
- Study 3 revealed that many existing comparative CNM studies lack consistent reporting and sufficient sample sizes, yielding uninformative equivalence tests.
Conclusions:
- Current comparative research on CNM relationships may be compromised by non-invariant measures.
- Auxiliary hypothesis evaluation and appropriate statistical procedures are crucial for informative comparative tests.
- Methodological reforms, including consistent reporting and larger samples, are essential for advancing rigorous CNM research.
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