Diving into the Stigma Around Consensual Non-Monogamies: Comparing Psychopathology, Well-Being, Attachment, and Other Psychological Characteristics with Monogamous Counterparts

Objectives This study aims to empirically challenge pervasive stigma and stereotypes around Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) by comprehensively comparing the psychological profiles of CNM practitioners and monogamous individuals, examining both stigma-related factors and psychological resources, while exploring the interactive role of LGBTQIA+ identity.Method Using a cross-sectional design, 815 Spanish adults (388 CNM, 427 monogamous) completed validated self-report measures for all target constructs, with group comparisons conducted via one-way ANCOVAs controlling for age and LGBTIQA+ status.Results Given the small effect sizes observed, interpretations are made with caution. Analyses revealed no robust overall differences in psychopathology or dark personality traits, directly refuting maladjustment stereotypes. CNM practitioners reported significantly higher scores in sexual sensation seeking, resilience, autonomy, and personal growth, alongside lower personal distress. Importantly, interaction analyses indicated that LGBTIQA+ monogamous individuals exhibited the highest levels of anxious attachment and psychopathology. Relationship style interacted significantly with LGBTQIA+ identity across several outcomesConclusions Overall, the findings do not support deficit-based accounts portraying CNM as inherently associated with greater psychological risk. Instead, the pattern observed in this sample was largely one of psychological similarity, with some small differences favoring CNM participants on selected resource-related variables. These results support the need for nuanced, evidence-based, and stigma-free frameworks in research and clinical practice addressing diverse relational orientations.