Gay monogamy and extra-dyadic sex: A critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature.

Background and objectives: The issue of gay monogamy and extra-dyadic sex has challenged heteronormative relationship conventions for decades and controversial research findings have been widely cited. This paper reviews a small but meaningful body of theoretical propositions and empirical evidence that looks at monogamy and nonmonogamy in male couples and the functions of extra-dyadic sex. Method: Papers were retrieved through searches in a range of sources and were sifted for relevance to this review. Data were synthesised using meta-ethnographic procedures (Noblit & Hare, 1988) in order to provide an interpretative representation of the literature. Critical appraisal of the literature is given throughout and a discussion of the implications for psychotherapeutic practice is also presented. Recommendations for future research are formulated in conclusion. Results: Most couples established non-monogamous relationships for reasons of sexual variety and were equally adjusted and functional as their monogamous counterparts. Non-monogamy in gay-male couples does not inevitably conflate with relationship dissatisfaction in such dyads. Monogamy was sustainable for many but not for others who broke their original agreements. The sparse coverage of LGB issues in the literature coupled with the shortage of robust empirical evidence on gay male coupledom signals psychology's need to address this area further in its research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]