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. 2017 Jul;46(5):1491-1502.
doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0819-y. Epub 2016 Sep 12.

The Geography of Sexual Orientation: Structural Stigma and Sexual Attraction, Behavior, and Identity Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Across 38 European Countries

John E Pachankis  1 , Mark L Hatzenbuehler  2 , Massimo Mirandola  3 , Peter Weatherburn  4 , Rigmor C Berg  5 , Ulrich Marcus  6 , Axel J Schmidt  4
Affiliations

The Geography of Sexual Orientation: Structural Stigma and Sexual Attraction, Behavior, and Identity Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Across 38 European Countries

John E Pachankis et al. Arch Sex Behav. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

While the prevalence of sexual identities and behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) varies across countries, no study has examined country-level structural stigma toward sexual minorities as a correlate of this variation. Drawing on emerging support for the context-dependent nature of MSM's open sexual self-identification cross-nationally, we examined country-level structural stigma as a key correlate of the geographic variation in MSM's sexual attraction, behavior, and identity, and concordance across these factors. Data come from the European MSM Internet Survey, a multi-national dataset containing a multi-component assessment of sexual orientation administered across 38 European countries (N = 174,209). Country-level stigma was assessed using a combination of national laws and policies affecting sexual minorities and a measure of attitudes toward sexual minorities held by the citizens of each country. Results demonstrate that in more stigmatizing countries, MSM were significantly more likely to report bisexual/heterosexual attractions, behaviors, and identities, and significantly less likely to report concordance across these factors, than in less stigmatizing countries. Settlement size moderated associations between country-level structural stigma and odds of bisexual/heterosexual attraction and behavior, such that MSM living in sparsely populated locales within high-structural stigma countries were the most likely to report bisexual or heterosexual behaviors and attractions. While previous research has demonstrated associations between structural stigma and adverse physical and mental health outcomes among sexual minorities, this study was the first to show that structural stigma was also a key correlate not only of sexual orientation identification, but also of MSM's sexual behavior and even attraction. Findings have implications for understanding the ontology of MSM's sexuality and suggest that a comprehensive picture of MSM's sexuality will come from attending to the local contexts surrounding this important segment of the global population.

Keywords: Male bisexuality; Men who have sex with men; Minority stress; Sexual orientation; Stigma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of MSM identifying as heterosexual or bisexual by country-level structural stigma.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of MSM reporting sex with women by country-level structural stigma.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proportion of MSM reporting attraction to women by country-level structural stigma.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Interaction between country-level structural stigma and settlement size in predicting odds of bisexual or heterosexual (compared to exclusively homosexual) attraction.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Interaction between country-level structural stigma and settlement size in predicting odds of bisexual or heterosexual (compared to exclusively homosexual) behavior.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Interaction between country-level structural stigma and settlement size in predicting odds of bisexual or heterosexual (compared to exclusively homosexual) behavior.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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