Developmental patterns of sexual identity, romantic attraction, and sexual behavior among adolescents over three years. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stewart, J.L.; Spivey, Leigh A.; Widman, Laura; Choukas-Bradley, Sophia; Prinstein, Mitchell J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 77(2019)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Sexual fluidity -- Sexual orientation -- Sexual minority youth -- LGBTQ youth -- Sexual development -- Sexual behavior; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2019.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Adolescents are heterogeneous in how they define and experience their sexual orientation, which can include specific identity labels, romantic attractions, and other- and/or same-sex sexual behavior. These three components of sexual orientation are not always concordant, and studies suggest adolescents—particularly girls—are fluid in these dimensions of orientation over time. The current study examined: 1) fluidity in adolescent girls' and boys' self-labeled identities and romantic attractions over time, and 2) patterns of adolescent girls' and boys' self-labeled identities and romantic attractions as they coincide with sexual behavior. Methods: Surveys were administered to adolescents in three low-income high schools in the rural Southeastern U.S. at three yearly intervals ( n = 744; M age = 15.0; 54.3% girls; 48% White, 24% Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Black/African American). Participants reported their self-labeled sexual identity and romantic attraction at each time point and their lifetime sexual behavior with girls and boys at year 3. Results: Results revealed 26% of girls and 11% of boys reported fluidity in identity and 31% of girls and 10% of boys reported fluidity in attractions. At each time point, up to 20% of girls and 6% of boys reported a sexual minority identity label with concurrent same-sex attraction; the majority of these participants also reported same-sex behavior. Among heterosexual-identified participants reporting some degree of same-sex attraction at year 3, approximately 66% of girls and 10% of boys reported same-sex behavior. Conclusions: The findings suggest that many adolescents are nuanced and dynamic in how they identify and experience their developing sexualities.