Exploring Relationship Dynamics in Polyamorous Families

Kaiser, Melody Anne

Exploring Relationship Dynamics in Polyamorous Families

dc.contributor.advisor	Chu, Manwai
dc.contributor.advisor	Radtke, H. Lorraine
dc.contributor.author	Kaiser, Melody Anne
dc.contributor.committeemember	Kassan, Anusha
dc.contributor.committeemember	Boon, Susan D
dc.date	2020-02
dc.date.accessioned	2019-12-20T23:50:20Z
dc.date.available	2019-12-20T23:50:20Z
dc.date.issued	2019-12-20
dc.description.abstract	The practice of polyamory appears to be increasing in North America. If so, the number of children being raised in polyamorous families will also rise. The construct of polyamory is still being formulated and more quantitative studies are needed to define, measure, and examine polyamory over time. This study compared 117 polyamorous and 193 monogamous parents on measures of relationship stability, relationship health, communication styles during conflict, relationship satisfaction, and parenting styles. A new measure that gauges monogamous and polyamorous propensities, the Monogamy Polyamory Spectrum Questionnaire (MPSQ), was also examined for its use in future polyamory research. Analyses indicated that compared to monogamous parents, polyamorous parents reported (a) having healthier relationships with more social support, companionship, and less social distress from negative relationships; (b) using the constructive communication style of compromise more, and the destructive communication styles of emotional reactivity and domination less; (c) higher relationship satisfaction; and (d) using the authoritative parenting style to a greater extent. Gender differences were only found on the MPSQ, with men scoring significantly higher than women. The MPSQ demonstrated psychometrics evidence of high reliability, good construct validity, and strong predictive validity. This study provides evidence that polyamorous families may be just as healthy, if not healthier than monogamous families. These findings have implications for counselling and health professionals, as well as for marriage and family law to ensure policies and practices do not discriminate against those who practice polyamory. Researchers may use the MPSQ to improve upon participant self-categorization and examine the stability of polyamory over time.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Kaiser, M. A. (2019). Exploring Relationship Dynamics in Polyamorous Families (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37366
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/111374
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Werklund School of Education	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	polyamory	en_US
dc.subject	polyamorous families	en_US
dc.subject	consensual non-monogamy	en_US
dc.subject	relationship dynamics	en_US
dc.subject	relationship health	en_US
dc.subject	communication during conflict	en_US
dc.subject	relationship satisfaction	en_US
dc.subject	parenting styles	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Educational Psychology	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Guidance and Counseling	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Psychology	en_US
dc.title	Exploring Relationship Dynamics in Polyamorous Families	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Education Graduate Program – Educational Psychology	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US