A gender-based study of sociosexual orientation and relationship satisfaction among IT professionals

The Information Technology (IT) industry has become one of the most dynamic and demanding professional environments in contemporary India. The high-paced work culture, irregular hours, and increased exposure to global influences have significantly shaped interpersonal dynamics and intimate relationships among IT professionals. Within this changing landscape, sociosexual orientation-an individual’s willingness to engage in sexual relations outside committed partnerships-has emerged as an important construct influencing relationship satisfaction. This study aimed to examine gender differences in sociosexual orientation and relationship satisfaction among IT professionals and explore the correlation between these two variables. The research sample consisted of 120 participants (60 males and 60 females) aged between 23 and 35 years, working in multinational IT firms in Pune, India. The Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) developed by Penke and Asendorpf (2008) and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) by Hendrick (1988) were administered. Independent samples t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine gender-based differences and relationships between the constructs. Results revealed significant gender differences in sociosexual orientation, with males reporting higher unrestricted sociosexuality than females. Significant gender differences were found in relationship satisfaction, with females reporting higher relationship satisfaction than males. A significant negative correlation was observed between sociosexual orientation and relationship satisfaction, suggesting that individuals with more unrestricted sociosexual orientations tend to report lower satisfaction in committed relationships.