Abstract
The manner in which individuals report their sexual attraction, self-label their sexual identity, or behave in sexual situations can vary over time, and particularly, adolescents may change their reported sexual attraction or sexual orientation identity over the course of their development. It is important to better understand the social factors that may influence these changes, such as one's religiosity. The present study thus aimed to assess the fluidity of adolescent romantic and sexual attraction over time and to explore the role of religiosity in this dynamic using two independent panel samples of Croatian high school students (N = 849 and N = 995). Response items for sexual and romantic attraction were categorized based on the Kinsey scale, and religiosity was assessed with a standard one-item indicator. Results demonstrated that changes in attraction were substantially more prevalent among non-exclusively heterosexual participants compared to exclusively heterosexual participants in both panels. Although more female than male adolescents reported non-heterosexual attraction, gender differences in attraction fluidity were inconsistent. Religiosity was associated with initial sexual attraction (more religious individuals were more likely to report exclusively heterosexual attraction), but not with changes in romantic and sexual attraction over time. Given that the understanding of adolescent sexual development can play an important role in reducing their vulnerability to sexual risk taking, stigmatization, and abuse, this study's findings have relevance for teachers, parents, and counselors working with adolescents, and in particular for sexual minority youth.
Highlights
Sexual and romantic attraction is one important component of sexual orientation, which further entails aspects of identity and behavior (Institute of Medicine, 2011)
The manner in which individuals report their sexual attraction, self-label their sexual identity, or behave in sexual situations can vary over time (Diamond & Savin-Williams, 2000; Hu, Xu, & Tornello, 2016)
Some research suggests that attitudes and cognitions may influence stability of sexual attraction (Katz-Wise & Hyde, 2015), and religiosity has been associated with expression of sexual attraction among adults (Scheitle & Wolf, 2018)
Summary
Sexual and romantic attraction is one important component of sexual orientation, which further entails aspects of identity and behavior (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Apart from marked developmental differences, it should be noted that most studies on adults have assessed the fluidity of sexual orientation identity (Everett, 2015; Katz-Wise & Hyde, 2015; Scheitle & Wolf, 2018)—a construct that likely does not represent first feelings of sexual attraction in adolescents very well (Diamond & SavinWilliams, 2000; Ott et al, 2011; Perrin, 2002; Rosario et al, 2006; Savin-Williams & Cohen, 2007; Scheitle & Wolf, 2018).
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