Abstract
Purpose: To examine the longitudinal cohesion and stability of sexual minority status indicators. Methods: The sample comprised 2,450 girls recruited from the city of Pittsburgh at ages 5–8 years. Sexual attraction, sexual partnering, romantic partnering, and sexual orientation identity were assessed between 14 and 22 years. Results: Repeated measures latent class analysis identified three sexual minority trajectories: primarily other-sex oriented (n = 716), primarily same-sex oriented (n = 90), and bisexually oriented (n = 235). Sexual minority status indicators displayed fluidity over time but cohered within latent classes. Conclusions: Within this large sample of girls, several distinct sexuality trajectories emerged. Trajectories are relatively stable from adolescence to young adulthood.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 57-61 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Adolescent Health |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2018 |
Funding
This research was supported by the Ford Foundation , National Institutes of Mental Health ( R01 MH56630 ), and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ( R01 HL137246 ). Study sponsors did not contribute to the study design, data analysis, or preparation of this report.
Keywords
- Developmental trajectories
- Sexual minority
- Sexual orientation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health