A recent study published in Psychology and Sexuality suggests that polyamory is not only present among adolescents, but also comes with significant stigma and mental health issues. This research, one of the first to focus on polyamorous youth, found that 16.7% of LGBTQ+ summer camp participants identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous. These adolescents reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than their peers.
Polyamory refers to a relationship structure in which individuals have multiple romantic partners simultaneously, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Unlike cheating, which involves secrecy and betrayal, polyamory is based on honesty, communication and mutual agreement between all partners. Polyamorous relationships can vary widely and do not necessarily involve sexual activity; they may focus on emotional and romantic relationships.
Ambiamory is a related term that describes a person’s flexibility in their relationship preferences. Ambamorous individuals are open to monogamous or polyamorous relationships, depending on their current situation and the preferences of their partners. Essentially, ambiamorous people do not have a fixed preference for one type of relationship structure over another; instead, they adapt to what works for them based on their situation and the dynamic with their partners.
The motivation behind the new study came from the growing visibility and acceptance of polyamory among adults, coupled with a lack of understanding of its presence and impact among adolescents. Although polyamory has received more attention in the media and adult-focused research, few studies have been conducted on how these relationship structures affect younger individuals.
To determine whether polyamorous and ambiamorous teens experience higher levels of mental health issues, study author Traci Gillig surveyed individuals at Brave Trails, a summer camp designed specifically for LGBTQ+ youth. A total of 323 adolescents, aged 12 to 17, participated in the research. These participants were selected during their participation in the camp during the summer of 2023.
Participants completed surveys at two different times: before the start of camp and on the last full day of camp. These surveys included standardized assessments to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale of the DSM-5 Youth Anxiety Measure was used to assess anxiety, while the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Short Form was used to measure depressive symptoms. These tools are well established in psychological research and provide reliable data on the mental health status of participants.
In addition to mental health assessments, the surveys asked participants about their preferred relationship structure and their comfort level in talking openly about their relationship preferences in their home community. Participants could choose from options such as monogamous, polyamorous, ambiamorous, or unsure, and they also had the opportunity to elaborate on their responses through open-ended questions.
The study also included qualitative elements. Participants provided written explanations of their perceptions of safety and acceptance of their polyamorous identity. These qualitative responses were analyzed thematically to identify common patterns and themes related to their experiences and sense of safety in their home environment.
Gillig found that a significant portion of camp attendees, about 16.7 percent, identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous. These polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents had elevated depressive symptoms before attending camp. However, the study found no significant differences in anxiety levels between polyamorous/ambiamorous youth and their peers at baseline, indicating that the impact on mental health may be more pronounced in terms of depressive symptoms. than anxiety.
A notable aspect of the results was the impact of the supportive environment provided by the LGBTQ+ camp. All adolescents, regardless of their relationship preferences, showed improvement in their mental health at the end of the camp. Depressive symptoms and anxiety levels decreased significantly after spending time in this accepting and affirming setting. This highlights the importance of creating supportive spaces for marginalized youth, where they can explore their identities without fear of judgment or discrimination.
Despite the overall improvement in mental health, the study found that many polyamorous and ambiamorous teens did not feel safe talking openly about their identity in their home community. Less than half (44.4%) of these young people felt or would feel safe disclosing their polyamorous identity at home. Qualitative data provided further insight into this issue, with many adolescents expressing concern about being misunderstood, judged, or stigmatized if they were open about their relationship preferences.
Thematic analysis of the written responses identified several reasons why these adolescents did not feel safe. The most common reasons were stigma of polyamory, lack of understanding of polyamorous relationships, and uncertainty or fear about how people would react. Many teens mentioned that even those who accept their LGBTQ+ identities might not support their polyamorous identity, indicating a specific gap in acceptance and understanding within their communities.
“It is notable that many polyamorous teens reported that they would not feel safe in their home community,” said Gillig, an assistant professor at Washington State University. “They felt like they would be misunderstood or that people had stereotypes or judgments about what it meant for them to be poly, such as that they were promiscuous or didn’t perceive cheating as a issue.”
“Young people’s experience of being polyamorous or ambiamorous is similar to that of being LGBTQ+ in that if they perceive that they will not be supported, they are not as likely to come out at home. We know from research with queer youth that this can cause high levels of depressive symptoms,” she added. “I hope parents will have an open mind if their child comes to them and expresses that they identify as polyamorous or if they have questions about it.”
On the other hand, adolescents who felt safe speaking openly about their polyamorous identity often cited supportive or indifferent attitudes in their communities, knowledge of other polyamorous individuals, and strong comfort with their own identity as reasons for their security feeling. These protective factors highlight the importance of having visible support networks and fostering an environment in which diverse relationship structures are understood and accepted.
The study “Polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents: A first empirical look at mental health in an LGBTQ+ sample” was published online on April 28, 2024.
News Source : www.psypost.org
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