Recent research published in Sexual behavior archives This suggests that young women who are open to “sweet relationships” tend to experience deeper psychological vulnerabilities, such as difficulties with emotional coping and relationship skills. This study provides evidence that accepting to exchange intimacy for material gain is often associated with negative childhood experiences that shape the way people view themselves and others.
Sugar relationships involve arrangements in which companionship or sexual intimacy is exchanged for resources such as money or gifts. Public discussions about these arrangements tend to focus on the financial or ethical aspects of the exchanges. The authors of the new study wanted to look beyond the surface and understand the underlying emotional and cognitive patterns that make someone more receptive to this type of dating.
“Research on sugar relationships and other sexual and economic interactions has increased rapidly in recent years. Many studies report that women involved in these relationships tend to exhibit higher levels of emotional insecurity, relationship difficulties, or weaker personality functioning,” said study author Norbert Mesko, a professor at the University of Pécs.
“However, an important question remains largely unanswered: Are these psychological characteristics a result of these relationships, or could they have already existed beforehand? Our study approached the issue from a different angle. Rather than focusing solely on women who were already involved in sweet relationships, we investigated women’s openness to such relationships.”
“We tested a model that suggests openness to sugar relationships may be associated with early relationship experiences, emotion regulation patterns, and personality functioning. In other words, we wanted to investigate whether some of the psychological patterns observed in previous studies may partially precede engagement in these relationships, rather than simply arising from them.”
Researchers collected 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 educational level, geographical region, and type of community in which they live. Participants completed a series of validated online surveys in December 2024.
The study measured participants’ general tolerance for sugar relationships, not whether they actually entered into one. Scientists chose this approach to capture a wide range of psychological attitudes that exist independently of actual behavior. This method helps uncover the psychological mechanisms that shape the general public’s receptivity to transactional intimacy.
The scientists also assessed the presence of early maladaptive schemas in the participants. These schemas are deeply ingrained negative beliefs about ourselves and the world, typically formed during childhood when our basic emotional needs are ignored. People with this schema often have strong fears of abandonment, emotional deprivation, and social rejection.
Additionally, the researchers measured personality functioning. This concept refers to an individual’s ability to maintain a clear identity and build stable, mutually supportive relationships. People with impaired personality functioning may have difficulty setting goals, feeling empathy, and tolerating emotional intimacy.
Finally, the study assessed perceived emotion regulation, which refers to specific mental habits that people use to cope with stress and negative emotions. Some strategies are adaptive, such as looking for solutions or finding a positive perspective. There are also maladaptive strategies, such as obsessing over problems, expecting the worst, and constantly blaming yourself.
The data revealed that women who reported being more open to sugar relationships tended to show greater impairment in general personality functioning. They also relied more on unhelpful emotion regulation strategies to manage their distress. Healthy emotional coping strategies showed no relationship to acceptance of sugar dating.
The researchers found that early maladaptive schemas indirectly influenced sugar-related attitudes. Women who had stronger negative schemas in childhood were more likely to struggle with self-identity and emotional regulation as adults. It was predicted that these current difficulties would further increase the willingness to consider transactional dating arrangements.
“Of particular interest is how different psychological domains such as early relationship experiences, emotional regulation, and personality functioning consistently contribute to the same model,” Mesko told SciPost. “Previous research had examined some of these variables separately, but seeing them working together within a single statistical framework strengthens the interpretation that openness to a relationship with sugar may reflect a broader psychological pattern rather than a single isolated factor.”
Researchers noted that people who do not have effective emotional coping strategies are more likely to adopt external behaviors to manage internal distress. Cognitive distortions rooted in childhood can amplify emotional instability, so these individuals may prioritize short-term security and a sense of control. In this context, monetary or material rewards from sugar relationships may serve as a coping mechanism.
This pattern suggests that sugar relationships may be attractive to some people because clear, negotiated boundaries provide a sense of security. Those who find deep emotional intimacy confusing or overwhelming may find exchange-based arrangements more manageable. The structured nature of transactional dating can offer another way to experience connection without the emotional risks of traditional romantic partnerships.
“One lesson is that attitudes toward unconventional relationship forms may reflect broader psychological and developmental experiences,” Mesko explained. “Our findings suggest that openness to sweet relationships is related to early relationship experiences, differences in emotion management, and aspects of personality functioning.”
“While these factors do not determine relationship choices, they can influence how individuals perceive and evaluate different types of relationships. Relationship decisions rarely emerge in isolation; they are often shaped by a person’s life history, emotional patterns, and social environment.”
The main limitation of this study lies in its correlational design. The statistical associations observed in the data indicate that these psychological factors are related to tolerance for sugar relationships, but do not prove that one causes the other. Future research is needed to establish a direct link of cause and effect.
“Another potential misconception is to interpret the findings as applying to all individuals,” Mesko noted. “Relationship choices are highly variable, and people get into sugar relationships for a variety of reasons. Our results describe general trends in our sample, not definitive individual paths.”
“The effects we observed were of medium size, which is typical in psychological studies involving complex social behaviors. Relationship attitudes are influenced by many interacting factors, including cultural norms, economic circumstances, personal values, and psychological characteristics.”
“Rather than identifying a single definitive predictor, our findings highlight a pattern of associations. The practical importance lies not in reliably predicting individual behavior, but in improving our understanding of the psychological context of sexual-economic relationships.”
Looking ahead, the scientists plan to conduct longitudinal studies that follow individuals over time. Observing people over many years may help verify whether these psychological patterns truly precede interest in trading dating. They also hope to develop cross-cultural research to examine how differences in social norms and economic circumstances shape attitudes toward exchanging intimacy for material gain.
“For about six years, our research group has been studying psychological openness to sexual and economic interactions,” Mesko explained. “One of our broad goals is to develop a more comprehensive psychological framework that explains why some people are more open to this type of relationship 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 any particular form of relationship,” Mesko concluded. “Rather, it allows us to approach complex human behavior with more nuance. As our findings suggest, tolerance for certain relationship forms may reflect deeper psychological and life history factors that deserve careful and empathetic consideration.”
The study, “Openness to ‘sugar relationships’ reflects personality and emotional vulnerability in a representative sample of Hungarian women,” was authored by Norbert Mesko, Béla Bilkas, and András N. Zid.
