Satisfaction with Open Sexual Agreements in Australian Gay Men's Relationships: the Role of Perceived Discrepancies in Benefit

Hosking, Warwick ORCID: 0000-0003-4707-5483 (2013) Satisfaction with Open Sexual Agreements in Australian Gay Men's Relationships: the Role of Perceived Discrepancies in Benefit. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42 (7). pp. 1309-1317. ISSN 0004-0002 (print) 1573-2800 (online)

Abstract

This study investigated whether satisfaction with open sexual agreements in gay men’s relationships was associated with perceptions of discrepancies in the benefit experienced from those agreements. Three types of perceived discrepancy between the self and the relationship partner were examined: frequency of casual sex, attractiveness of casual partners, and “overall” benefit. Results from a survey conducted in 2010 of 685 Australian gay men in relationships with open agreements showed that men perceiving discrepancies in benefit, particularly those representing “under-benefit”, were less satisfied with their agreement than were men perceiving equal benefit. These results supported hypotheses derived from equity theory and provide insight into factors associated with gay men’s satisfaction with open agreements. These findings also have important practical implications. Professionals counselling gay men or couples experiencing low satisfaction with open agreements may consider raising issues of unequal benefit and work with their clients towards achieving equality.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/23412
DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-0005-9
Official URL http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/466/art%25...
Subjects Historical > FOR Classification > 1608 Sociology
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > College of Arts
Keywords ResPubID25538, homosexuals, homosexuality, sexual orientation, couples, partners, sexual activity, non-monogamous, Australia
Citations in Scopus 25 - View on Scopus
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