Women who are open to “sugar arrangements” tend to show deeper psychological vulnerabilities

A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that young women who are open to “sugar relationships” tend to experience deeper psychological vulnerabilities, such as difficulties with emotional coping and relationship skills. The research provides evidence that an acceptance of trading intimacy for material benefits is often linked to negative childhood experiences that shape how a person views themselves and others.

Sugar relationships involve an arrangement where companionship or sexual intimacy is exchanged for resources like money or gifts. Public discussions about these arrangements tend to focus heavily on the financial or ethical aspects of the exchange. The authors of the new study wanted to look beyond the surface to understand the underlying emotional and cognitive patterns that make someone receptive to this type of dating.

“Research on sugar relationships and other forms of sexual–economic exchange has grown rapidly in recent years. Many studies have reported that women involved in these relationships tend to show higher levels of emotional insecurity, relational difficulties, or vulnerabilities in personality functioning,” said study author Norbert Meskó, a professor at the University of Pécs.

“But an important question has remained largely unanswered: are these psychological characteristics consequences of these relationships, or could they already be present beforehand? Our study approached the issue from a different angle. Instead of focusing only on women who are already involved in sugar relationships, we examined women’s openness to such relationships.”

“We tested a model suggesting that openness to sugar relationships might be associated with early relational experiences, emotion regulation patterns, and personality functioning. In other words, we wanted to explore whether some of the psychological patterns observed in previous studies might partly precede involvement in these relationships rather than simply result from them.

The researchers gathered data from 500 young Hungarian women between the ages of 18 and 35. This group was specifically chosen to represent the broader population of Hungary in terms of education level, geographic region, and the type of community where they lived. Participants completed a series of validated online questionnaires in December 2024.

The surveys measured the participants’ general openness to sugar relationships, rather than whether they had actually engaged in one. The scientists chose this approach to capture a broad psychological attitude that exists independently of actual behavior. This method helps reveal the mental mechanisms that shape receptivity to transactional intimacy across the general public.

The scientists also assessed the presence of early maladaptive schemas in the participants. These schemas are deeply ingrained negative beliefs about oneself and the world, which typically develop in childhood when basic emotional needs are neglected. People with these schemas often harbor intense fears of abandonment, emotional deprivation, or social rejection.

Additionally, the researchers measured personality functioning. This concept refers to an individual’s capacity to maintain a clear sense of identity and build stable, mutually supportive relationships. A person with impaired personality functioning might struggle with setting goals, feeling empathy, or tolerating emotional closeness.

Finally, the surveys evaluated cognitive emotion regulation, which refers to the specific mental habits people use to handle stress and negative feelings. Some strategies are adaptive, like looking for solutions or finding a positive perspective. Other strategies are maladaptive, such as obsessing over a problem, expecting the absolute worst, or constantly blaming oneself.

The data revealed that women who reported higher openness to sugar relationships tended to show greater impairments in their general personality functioning. They also relied more heavily on unhelpful emotion regulation strategies to manage their distress. Healthy emotional coping strategies showed no link to an acceptance of sugar dating at all.

The researchers found that early maladaptive schemas indirectly influenced attitudes toward sugar relationships. Women with stronger negative childhood schemas were more likely to struggle with self-identity and emotional regulation as adults. These present-day struggles then predicted a greater willingness to consider transactional dating arrangements.

“What was particularly interesting was how consistently different psychological domains—early relational experiences, emotion regulation, and personality functioning—contributed to the same model,” Meskó told PsyPost. “While earlier studies had examined some of these variables separately, seeing them operate together within a single statistical framework strengthened the interpretation that openness to sugar relationships may reflect a broader psychological pattern rather than a single isolated factor.”

The researchers noted that individuals who lack effective emotional coping strategies are often more likely to adopt external behaviors to manage their internal distress. Because cognitive distortions rooted in early childhood amplify emotional instability, these individuals might prioritize short-term relief or a sense of control. In this context, the financial or material rewards of a sugar relationship might serve as a coping mechanism.

This pattern suggests that sugar relationships might appeal to some individuals because the clear, negotiated boundaries offer a sense of safety. For people who find deep emotional intimacy confusing or overwhelming, an exchange-based arrangement might feel easier to manage. The structured nature of transactional dating may provide an alternative way to experience connection without the emotional risks of a traditional romantic partnership.

“One takeaway is that attitudes toward unconventional relationship forms may reflect broader psychological and developmental experiences,” Meskó explained. “Our findings suggest that openness to sugar relationships is associated with earlier relational experiences, differences in how people manage emotions, and aspects of personality functioning.”

“These factors do not determine relationship choices, but they may influence how individuals perceive and evaluate different types of relationships. Human relationship decisions rarely emerge in isolation. They are often shaped by a person’s life history, emotional patterns, and social environment.”

A primary limitation of this research is its correlational design. The statistical links observed in the data show that these psychological factors are related to openness to sugar relationships, but they do not prove that one causes the other. Future work is required to establish a direct chain of cause and effect.

“Another potential misunderstanding would be to interpret the findings as applying to every individual,” Meskó noted. “Relationship choices are highly diverse, and people enter sugar relationships for many different reasons. Our results describe general tendencies in a sample, not deterministic pathways for individuals.”

“The effects we observed were moderate in size, which is typical in psychological research involving complex social behavior. Relationship attitudes are influenced by many interacting factors—cultural norms, economic conditions, personal values, and psychological characteristics.”

“Rather than identifying a single decisive predictor, our findings highlight a pattern of associations. The practical significance lies in improving our understanding of the psychological background of sexual–economic relationships, not in predicting individual behavior with certainty.

Looking ahead, the scientists plan to conduct longitudinal studies to track individuals over an extended period. Observing people over the years could help verify whether these psychological patterns truly precede an interest in transactional dating. They also hope to pursue cross-cultural research to see how different social norms and economic conditions shape attitudes toward exchanging intimacy for material gain.

“For about six years now, our research group has been studying psychological openness to sexual–economic exchange,” Meskó explained. “One of our broader goals is to develop a more comprehensive psychological framework explaining why some individuals are more open to these types of relationships than others.”

“Public discussions about sugar relationships are often framed primarily in moral, cultural, or economic terms. Psychological research can add another important perspective by examining the developmental and emotional factors that may shape relationship preferences.”

“Understanding these processes does not mean endorsing or condemning particular relationship forms,” Meskó concluded. “Rather, it allows us to approach complex human behaviors with greater nuance. As our findings suggest, openness to certain relationship forms may sometimes reflect deeper psychological and life-history factors that deserve careful and empathetic examination.”

The study, “Openness to “Sugar Relationships” Reflects Personality and Emotional Vulnerabilities in a Representative Sample of Hungarian Women,” was authored by Norbert Meskó, Béla Birkás, and András N. Zsidó.