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Evaluation ViewAttendees 7

Couples / Close Relationships
Symposia

Symposium 21 - Experiences of CNM-partnered individuals across racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual identities

Friday, November 15, 2024
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom K/L, Level 5, Downtown Marriott
CE: 1.5

Keywords: Couples / Close Relationships, LGBTQ+, Vulnerable Populations
Level of Familiarity: All
Recommended Readings: Scoats, R., & Campbell, C. (2022). What do we know about consensual non-monogamy?. Current Opinion in Psychology, 101468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101468,   Balzarini, R. N., & Muise, A. (2020). Beyond the dyad: A review of the novel insights gained from studying consensual non-monogamy. Current Sexual Health Reports, 12, 398-404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-020-00297-x ,   Klesse, C. (2018). Theorizing multi-partner relationships and sexualities – Recent work on non-monogamy and polyamory. Sexualities, 21(7), 1109-1124. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460717701691 ,   ,  

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) describes relationships in which parties involved explicitly consent to having multiple intimate relationships. CNM is becoming increasingly common, with approximately 1 in 5 single U.S. and Canadian adults reporting some personal experience of  CNM (Fairbrother et al., 2019; Haupert et al., 2017). Growing visibility has attracted research on the lived experiences of people in CNM relationships. Although previous literature suggested that the CNM population was homogeneously composed of highly educated and upper-class White folks (Sheff & Hammers, 2011), more recent studies revealed that the practice of CNM was also common among people with sexual, gender, and racial/ethnic minority identities (e.g., Balzarini et al., 2019 Moors et al. 2019). Such demographic diversity highlights the unique experiences of CNM-partnered individuals, both within the relationship(s) and in the larger societal context. 

Given the recency of academic interests, there is a strong need for more research on unique dynamics, characteristics, and experiences of people engaged in CNM.  Research on diverse CNM individuals is essential to support mental health professionals in providing effective, affirming care. The current symposium presents empirical findings on the experiences of CNM-partnered individuals across racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual identities.  An understanding of CNM experiences can inform the development of culturally sensitive clinical guidelines that may provide appropriate clinical resources to this underserved population.

For this symposium, Presenter 1 will present quantitative data on public perceptions of CNM relationships in politically conservative U.S. areas, especially pertaining to the role of conservatism and social identities in support and acceptance of CNM relationships. Presenter 2 will present cross-sectional data on the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of relationship agreements among multipartnered people of diverse sexual and gender identities. Presenter 3 will present phenomenological data on CNM-partnered African American college students’ experiences of support and barriers on college campuses. Presenter 4 will present phenomenological data on CNM-partnered individuals' views of jealousy and jealousy-coping strategies. Finally, Presenter 5 will present dyadic data on CNM-partnered  sexual minority adults’  vulnerability and experiences of  intimate partner violence. Presentations will be reviewed by a Discussant who is an expert on the health and wellbeing of gender, sexual, and racial/ethnic marginalized communities. The Discussant will synthesize study results and recommend appropriate future directions to advance the knowledge and clinical guidelines for scholars and providers working with CNM-partnered individuals.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe the unique experiences of individuals in consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships.
  2. Apply a non-monogamy-informed lens in their clinical work with individuals in CNM relationships.
  3. Recognize the common differences across various CNM relationship structures.
  4. The symposium can inform the provision of culturally-sensitive interventions for people in CNM relationships.
  5. The symposium amplifies the critical needs of CNM-partnered individuals, a population that continues to be under-researched and underserved.

Presentations:

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 21) Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual Minority Individuals in Consensual Non-monogamous Relationships

    Speaker: Quyen A. Do, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Yale University Child Study Center

    Co-author: Quyen A. Do, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Yale University Child Study Center

    Co-author: Shelby B. Scott, Ph.D. – The University of Texas at San Antonio

    Co-author: Kaitlin M. Brunett, M.A. (she/her/hers) – The University of Texas at San Antonio

    Co-author: Kayla Knopp, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – VA San Diego Healthcare System/University of California, San Diego

    Co-author: Sharon M. Flicker, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – California State University, Sacramento

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 21) Relationship Agreements Among Multi-partnered CNM Individuals

    Speaker: Ellora Vilkin, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Stony Brook University; Montefiore-Einstein

    Co-author: Emily Bibby, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Stony Brook University

    Co-author: Joanne Davila, Ph.D. – Stony Brook University

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 21) Experiences of Jealousy in Consensual Non-monogamous Relationships: Debunking Myths and Harnessing Strengths

    Speaker: Mia Semelman, Psy.D. (she/her/hers) – Pacific Anxiety Group

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 21) Examining Conservatism and Perceptions of Consensual Non-monogamy in Oklahoma

    Speaker: Dannie Klooster, M.S. (They/he) – Oklahoma State University

    Co-author: Dannie Klooster, M.S. (They/he) – Oklahoma State University

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 21) Consensual Non-monogamy and African American College Student: A Phenomenological Study on Experience and Support

    Speaker: Christopher N. Smith, B.S., M.A., Ph.D. (they/them/theirs) – Government