Also, men in polyamorous relationships (with multiple committed partners) have greater levels of testosterone than those in monogamous relationships (Gray, 2003). Similarly, only paired individuals with a more restricted sociosexuality had low testosterone levels, and paired men with a higher desire for uncommitted sexual activity had testosterone levels that were similar to those of single men (Edelstein, Chopik, and Kean, 2011). Higher levels of testosterone can even make it easier for people in committed relationships to show their feelings openly and securely without feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed about expressing themselves. A 2015 study found that single men and men in new relationships had higher testosterone levels than men in long-term relationships. In other words, it may be that men with higher baseline levels of testosterone are more likely to terminate their relationships before they become long-term due to their greater propensity to seek new partners (van Anders et al., 2007). However, as research increases our understanding of the different factors involved, including the contribution of the present study in terms of "new relationships," the picture is becoming clearer. No significant correlations were found between levels of testosterone and any SOI measure or age (see Table 1). Salivary levels of testosterone were analyzed in duplicate using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays according to the manufacturer's instructions (Salimetrics, 2014). Other studies have taken relationship length into account, but only in terms of either excluding men in new relationships (e.g., Gray, Campbell, Marlowe, Lipson, and Ellison, 2004) or by only concentrating on changes in relationship status over a 6-month period (van Anders and Watson, 2006). This has the advantage of avoiding attaching broad labels to the relationship type a man is in, meaning it can be more precise than categories such as "casually dating." In a similar vein to being in "casual relationships," it was expected that men in "new relationships" would not have experienced the adaptive decrease in testosterone of men in longer relationships. Although this is important, as it should accurately reflect their subjective belief about the relationship (thus revealing their underlying psychological state with regards to their current motivation to seek new partners), it may not be wholly accurate. One potential limitation of these findings with regards to relationship type is that it relies on self-categorization by participants (e.g., Burnham et al., 2003; Gray, Chapman, et al., 2004; Sakaguchi, Oki, Honma, and Hasegawa, 2006; van Anders and Goldey, 2010; van Anders et al., 2007; van Anders and Watson, 2006). Second, in both men and women, a larger change in cortisol levels during romantic speed-dating was related to more selectivity. First, men were more popular when they arrived at the romantic speed-dating event with elevated cortisol levels. These people are negotiators. They are sensitive to people’s feelings, and typically have good verbal and social skills. These people are drawn to people who are the opposite. Also the lack of a difference in terms of levels of contact with partners suggests that physical proximity is not the mechanism by which men in relationships experience lower levels of testosterone, as van Anders and Watson (2007) also found. To identify whether levels of testosterone varied between the relationship categories, a univariate ANOVA was conducted, with levels of testosterone as the dependent variable and relationship status (single vs. new relationship vs. paired) as a between-subjects measure. It was predicted that long-term paired men would have lower levels of testosterone than both single men and men in new relationships, whereas there would be no difference in levels between men in these latter two relationship categories. When it comes to forming connections through testosterone-driven behaviors like competition or aggression, testosterone levels can be both beneficial and detrimental. While there is no single answer as far as the ideal amount of this hormone needed for successful navigation through love connections, by learning more about its role in our lives we can gain valuable insight into ourselves so that we can better nurture our relationships going forward. High levels of testosterone increase libido and sexual attraction but also contribute to aggression when faced with a rival or potential threat. Testosterone, the hormone responsible for physical and behavioral changes in men during puberty, has a profound influence on relationships.
