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.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0726-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
The development of sexuality is one of the most salient aspects of 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
The current study investigated the characteristics of same-sex romantic attractions in 13-year-old girls and boys
Summary
The development of sexuality is one of the most salient aspects of adolescence. From age 10 years, children begin to experienceElectronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0726-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.romantic or sexual attractions (D’Augelli, Grossman, Starks, & Sinclair, 2010; McClintock & Herdt, 1996; Savin-Williams & Diamond, 2000). Previous studies documented the timing and sequence of the milestone events (e.g., first samesex attractions, first other-sex sexual activity, etc.) (studies reviewed in Fox, 1995; Calzo, Antonucci, Mays, & Cochran, 2011; D’Augelli et al, 2010; Herdt & Boxer, 1996; Savin-Williams & Diamond, 2000). These studies are based on sexual minority adults’ self-recall of early experiences and could have excluded many same-sex attracted young adolescents who would eventually identify as heterosexual
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