Abstract
A sugar relationship is a monetary-based liaison between a wealthier older and an attractive younger person, the latter receiving expensive gifts or financial compensation in exchange for her or his sexual companionship. Attachment, motivation, and self-esteem are all integrative parts of adult romantic and sexual relationships. There is relatively little empirical research on the psychological correlates of accepting attitudes toward sugar relationships. The research aimed to explore the relationship among the acceptance of sugar relationship, attachment (avoidance and anxiety), motivation (extrinsic and intrinsic), and self-esteem. A total of 2,409 Hungarian adults including 1,980 younger participants (1,804 women, 175 men, mean age = 21.17) and 429 older participants (290 men, 138 women, mean age = 48.86) completed an online test battery comprising four self-report measures. In the younger subsample, the only significant association obtained for the acceptance of sugar relationships was its positive correlation with extrinsic motivation. In the older subsample, the acceptance of sugar relationships was positively correlated with all tested variables except self-esteem. Subsequent analysis revealed that attachment avoidance but not anxiety moderated the associations between the variables. Among younger participants, the negative effect of self-esteem and intrinsic motivation on accepting sugar relationships decreased with increasing attachment avoidance. Among older participants, the positive effect of extrinsic motivation on accepting sugar relationships decreased with increasing attachment avoidance. The results are discussed with regard to relational and sexual goals associated with adult attachment orientations.
Highlights
The present study explored the psychological correlates of attitudes of younger and older individuals toward sugar relationships
To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to have explored the associations of the acceptance of sugar relationships with extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, self-esteem, and attachment anxiety and avoidance
The acceptance of sugar relationships only showed an association of considerable magnitude with extrinsic motivation
Summary
Aspirations are long-term goals manifested in behaviors varying across individuals and situations (Kasser and Ryan, 1993,1996). Attached adults showed relatively low levels of anxiety and avoidance, which were associated with supportive and accepting attitudes toward their partners and with high levels of relationship satisfaction, whereas, insecurely attached adults had less positive social experiences and more difficulties with approaching others, and they were less satisfied with their intimate partner relationships (Vicary and Fraley, 2009). Those with an anxious attachment style were prone to engage in casual sexual encounters lacking intimate interactions and adequate need for fulfillment, while those characterized by avoidance attachment tended to engage in emotionally detached sexual relationships (Hazan and Shaver, 1987). Low self-esteem emerging in adolescence is a risk factor for subsequent mental and physical health conditions, poor financial prospects, and criminal conduct (Trzesniewski et al, 2006), and for an early start of sex life, high-risk sexual activity, and a large number of sexual partners (Ethier et al, 2006)
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