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. 2023 Jun:257:113355.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.01.020. Epub 2023 Feb 22.

Sexual Fluidity in Identity and Behavior Among Cisgender Youth: Findings from the Longitudinal Growing up with Media Study

Sabra L Katz-Wise  1 , Nicholas S Perry  2 , Kimberly M Nelson  3 , Allegra R Gordon  4 , Michele L Ybarra  5
Affiliations

Sexual Fluidity in Identity and Behavior Among Cisgender Youth: Findings from the Longitudinal Growing up with Media Study

Sabra L Katz-Wise et al. J Pediatr. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine fluidity in sexual orientation identity and behavior among cisgender youth.

Study design: Data were analyzed from 5 survey waves of the longitudinal US Growing Up with Media Study (2010-2019). Participants were 989 cisgender youth, aged 13-20 years at baseline, who completed online surveys assessing sexual orientation identity and behavior (gender of sexual partners). Amount of change (mobility) and patterns of change across waves were assessed for identity and behavior.

Results: Consistently heterosexual was the most common sexual orientation identity (89%-97% for boys, 80%-90% for girls), followed by gay (3%) for boys, and bisexual (8%) for girls. Sexual minority identities increased (3%-11% for boys, 10%-20% for girls) over time, same-gender sexual behavior also increased. Girls had more identity mobility than boys; no gender difference was found for behavior mobility. Movement from heterosexual to a sexual minority identity occurred for 9% of girls and 6% of boys; movement from different-gender sexual behavior to same-gender sexual behavior occurred for 2% of girls and boys.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to assess multiple dimensions and patterns of change of youth sexual orientation in research and clinical care. Recognizing and creating space for conversations about changes in sexual identity and behavior over time will help providers accurately and effectively address the health needs of all patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Sabra Katz-Wise is a diversity consultant for McGraw Hill Publishers and Paramount Global, neither of whom were involved with or funded the current study. The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose. Allegra Gordon and Kimberly Nelson are consultants for EY, which was not involved with and did not fund the current study.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Non-Heterosexual Identities Among Youth in the Growing up with Media Study Across Waves. Age ranges by wave: Wave 4 = 13–20 years old: Wave 5 = 14–21 years old; Wave 6 = 15–22 years old; Wave 7 = 19–25 years old; Wave 8 = 20–26 years old.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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