Abstract
Multivariate structural equation modeling techniques have been applied to examine the causes of individual differences in responses to several items concerning sexual orientation. To minimize potential ascertainment and response biases, the study sample involved a large (N = 4901) community-based cohort of Australian twins aged 18-52 who answered an anonymous questionnaire on sexual behavior and attitudes. The statistical power of the analysis was increased by the availability of multiple measures of sexual orientation (behaviors, attitudes and feelings), providing stronger evidence for the existence of additive genetic influences on this phenotype than in a previous analysis (Bailey et al., 2000). Estimates of the heritability of homosexuality in this sample ranged between 50 and 60% in females but were significantly lower (heritability of approximately 30%) in males.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 345-356 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Behavior Genetics |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2000 |
Funding
This research was funded by a First Award to J. M. B. from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (USA) and a small Commonwealth AIDS Research Grant to N. G. M. Twins participating in this study were drawn from the Australian NHMRC Twin Registry. We thank John Pearson for data management and Olivia Zheng, Ann Eldridge, Sue Mason, and Theresa Pangan for their work in administering the questionnaire.
Keywords
- Heritability
- Homosexuality
- Sexual orientation
- Twins
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Genetics
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics