The impact of fluid attraction and fluid identity on mental health

Abstract

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examined the impact of sexuality factors and satisfaction with partner on stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Multiple regression was used to evaluate the impact of predictors such as sexuality factors and relationship satisfaction on the dependent variables: stress, anxiety, and depression. Three main results were discovered. First, sexual minority females who have lower levels of education and are dissatisfied with their relationship experience significantly higher stress, while sexual minority males do not differ from heterosexual males in terms of relationship satisfaction or stress. Second, sexual minority females who have lower levels of education and who are dissatisfied with their relationship experience significantly higher anxiety, while sexual minority males do not differ from heterosexual males in terms of relationship satisfaction or anxiety. Finally, female sexual minorities who have lower levels of education reported fluid attraction, fluid identity, dissatisfaction with their relationship, and have significantly higher depression when compared to male sexual minorities or heterosexuals. Further research should examine gender and fluidity in greater detail.