Homosexuality as a Discrete Class.
Psychol Sci
; 26(12): 1843-53, 2015 Dec.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26499203
ABSTRACT
Previous research on the latent structure of sexual orientation has returned conflicting results, with some studies finding a dimensional structure (i.e., ranging quantitatively along a spectrum) and others a taxonic structure (i.e., categories of individuals with distinct orientations). The current study used a sample (N = 33,525) from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). A series of taxometric analyses were conducted using three indicators of sexual orientation identity, behavior, and attraction. These analyses, performed separately for women and men, revealed low-base-rate same-sex-oriented taxa for men (base rate = 3.0%) and women (base rate = 2.7%). Generally, taxon membership conferred an increased risk for psychiatric and substance-use disorders. Although taxa were present for men and women, women demonstrated greater sexual fluidity, such that any level of same-sex sexuality conferred taxon membership for men but not for women.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sexual Behavior
/
Social Identification
/
Homosexuality
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Psychol Sci
Journal subject:
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2015
Type:
Article