Exploring the Relationship of Autism Trait Scores with Experience and Enjoyment of Consensual Non-Monogamy

Background: Autistic adults report higher rates of diverse relationship structures in qualitative studies, supported by active participation in online community forums, yet no quantitative research has tested the association between autistic traits and consensual non-monogamy (CNM). This study examined whether autistic trait levels were associated with CNM experience and enjoyment and whether any such associations were linear or concentrated at particular trait levels. Methods: Autistic and non-autistic adults ( n = 422, 45% female-identifying, 25% male-identifying, 30% nonbinary gender; aged 18–80, mean age = 36, standard deviation = 10 years) completed an online survey including the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI) and items assessing CNM experience and enjoyment. We classified CATI scores into quintiles to test potential nonlinear relationships between autism traits and CNM, classified into quintiles. Results: Compared with adults in the lowest quintile, adults in the fourth CATI quintile (but not those in the fifth/highest) had over twice the odds of reporting experience of CNM when controlling for sex at birth (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08–6.38). This became nonsignificant when gender identity replaced sex in the model, with nonbinary gender being associated with almost four times greater odds of CNM experience (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.59–8.85). CATI quintile was not associated with CNM enjoyment. Diagnosed ADHD was associated with four times higher odds of enjoyment (OR = 4.18, 95% CI = 1.37–12.75); however, as the overall model was not significant, this finding should be treated as preliminary. Participants in current CNM relationships were more likely to report enjoyment of CNM than those with only past experience. Conclusion: Moderately elevated autistic traits were associated with CNM experience, but not when gender identity was included in the model. Nonbinary gender was independently associated with CNM experience; a tentative association between diagnosed ADHD and CNM enjoyment warrants replication. These findings highlight the intersection of neurodivergence and gender diversity in relationship practices.