What Percent of Poly Relationships Fail? The Surprising Truth

The Complex Nature of Polyamory

Well, here’s the thing about polyamorous relationships: they’re not as straightforward as people often think. It’s not just about having multiple partners; it’s about communication, boundaries, and a whole lot of emotional intelligence. But the big question many people have is: how often do poly relationships fail?

Actually, there’s no easy answer to this. While there’s a lot of data on monogamous relationships, the statistics on polyamory are harder to come by. But I’ll do my best to break it down, sharing both hard facts and my personal thoughts.

What Do We Know About Poly Relationship Failure?

There’s not an abundance of hard statistics when it comes to polyamorous relationships. However, some studies estimate that between 20% and 40% of poly relationships face serious issues or fail outright. Honestly, that's a pretty wide range, and it can depend on a lot of factors.

I remember chatting with a friend who’s been in a polyamorous relationship for about three years. She said that while they’ve had their ups and downs, especially with jealousy, they've been able to work through things with open communication. That doesn’t mean that every poly relationship will have the same outcome. In fact, she made a point about how crucial it is to have a solid foundation of trust and respect for each partner’s needs. Without that, things can go south quickly.

Why Do Poly Relationships Fail?

Alright, now let's dive into the reasons poly relationships fail. It’s not just about having multiple partners—it’s about the dynamics and challenges that arise.

Communication Breakdowns

I think the number one reason poly relationships fail is communication, or rather, the lack of it. Polyamory requires a level of communication that’s often more intense than in monogamous relationships. And let me tell you, it can be exhausting. If you're not actively keeping all the lines open and honest, small problems can snowball into massive issues.

Honestly, I’ve seen it happen. A few years ago, I was part of a friend group where two people were in a polyamorous relationship. At first, everything seemed perfect. But as time passed, one person started feeling neglected. The other partner, feeling guilty, started pulling away. Neither of them communicated how they were feeling until things had already gotten really bad.

Jealousy and Insecurity

Ah, jealousy. It’s a tricky one. In polyamorous relationships, jealousy doesn’t just mean romantic jealousy—it can also extend to insecurities about time, attention, or emotional connections. It’s natural to feel a little jealous now and then, but in polyamory, if you’re not dealing with those feelings in a healthy way, it can destroy everything.

A close friend of mine recently told me that his poly relationship ended because of this exact issue. One partner felt insecure about their other partner’s deeper emotional bond with someone else. No one addressed it, and eventually, the relationship fell apart. What a mess!

Expectations vs. Reality

When you first enter a polyamorous relationship, you might have all these idealistic ideas about how it’s going to go. But let’s be real—it’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. The reality is that managing multiple relationships at once can be incredibly demanding, especially if you’re not realistic about the time, emotional labor, and energy required.

I had a conversation with a colleague about this just last week. He was dating two people but was constantly stressed, trying to juggle schedules and meet everyone's needs. Eventually, he had to make the tough decision to step back from one relationship because he wasn’t able to give it the attention it deserved.

Can Poly Relationships Last?

So, the big question—do polyamorous relationships last? I’d say yes, absolutely, but it’s not for everyone. I’ve seen poly relationships that work beautifully, where everyone communicates well and has clear boundaries. But those are rare. It takes a lot of work, and you’ve got to be ready for some serious emotional labor.

What Can You Do to Make It Work?

If you're considering polyamory or are already in a poly relationship, here’s my advice: start with a solid foundation of communication and trust. Don’t shy away from difficult conversations, and don’t let things fester.

A little while ago, I met a couple who had been in a polyamorous relationship for over five years. They were thriving, and they had regular “check-ins” to ensure everyone’s needs were being met. They made sure that jealousy was addressed head-on, and they were always transparent with one another.

Conclusion: The Takeaway

Polyamorous relationships can absolutely work, but they come with their own unique set of challenges. The failure rate might be higher than you expect, but it’s not an impossible situation to navigate. Communication, trust, and managing expectations are the cornerstones of any healthy relationship—polyamorous or otherwise. So, if you're thinking about diving into polyamory, just make sure you're prepared for the emotional work ahead.

Honestly, I’m still a bit on the fence about it all—polyamory is not for everyone, and I think it’s important to be really clear about your intentions and limits from the start.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.