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In Search of Emerging Same-Sex Sexuality: Romantic Attractions at Age 13 Years.

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Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Authors

Li, Gu 
Hines, Melissa 

Abstract

Sex-typed behavior in childhood is significantly related to sexual orientation in adulthood. In addition, same-sex attractions in early adolescence are more non-exclusive than in adulthood and can differ from later same-sex orientations. However, little research has focused on romantic attractions as they emerge during early adolescence. Drawing a sample from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (197 girls, 204 boys), the current study examined whether same-sex romantic attractions at age 13 years were exclusive, and whether they were predicted by sex-typed behavior at age 3.5 years. No young adolescents in this sample reported exclusive same-sex attractions, and increased same-sex attractions were not significantly related to reduced other-sex sexualities. Childhood sex-typed behavior did not significantly predict early same-sex attractions, suggesting that early same-sex attractions differ from later same-sex orientations. The current study highlights the importance of studying the development of sexuality beginning prior to adulthood.

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Keywords

ALSPAC, Development, Early adolescence, Sex-typed behavior, Sexual orientation, Sexuality, Adolescent, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Development, Sexuality

Journal Title

Archives of Sexual Behavior: an interdisciplinary research journal

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Journal ISSN

0004-0002
1573-2800

Volume Title

45

Publisher

Springer Nature
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (069606/Z/02/Z)
The UK Medical Research Council (Grant ref: 74882), the Wellcome Trust (Grant ref: 076467) and the University of Bristol currently provide core support for ALSPAC. The present study was funded by the Wellcome Trust (Grant ref: 069606).