Open Relationship - Prevalence

Prevalence

Some believe that open relationships occur more frequently in certain demographics, such as the young rather than the old in America, including, more specifically, the college-educated middle-class, rather than the uneducated working-class, or people of certain ethnic and/or other racial minorities. Open relationships may also be more common among females rather than males, especially those in the same categories, such as college-educated, middle-class, white, younger Americans. This may be because women have more to gain by stressing this idea of equal rights, and that the women’s rights movement supports the idea of open relationships. Although not all of these have yet been proven within studies, one idea that has been supported is that those living further away from parental guidance are more likely to partake in open relationships.

A 1974 study showed that male students who either cohabit or live in a communal group are more likely to become involved in open relationships rather than females, and are still more interested in the concept than females even if not participating in open relationships.

Many couples within open relationships are dual-career, meaning that both primary partners have a stable job and/or a career. Both men and women in these, especially in closed groups, are also more likely to be in managerial jobs. Most also are either childfree, or post child-rearing.