Worldwide study reveals fluid sexual preferences in females and no association between gynephilia and non-heterosexuality.

Abstract

Social factors and a lack of clearself-awareness may prevent women from explicitly reporting their non-heterosexuality, and implicit measures could provide more reliable data. This study examined non-heterosexuality and gynephilia in a large, global sample of women using implicit and explicit methods. A sample of 491 women participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a biographical questionnaire, the Autobiographical-Implicit Association Test, the Sexual Preference-Implicit Association Test (SP-IAT), and an explicit measure of sexual orientation. In a follow-up study, 263 participants were recontacted and completed the Autobiographical Sexual Orientation IAT and answered additional questions about their sexual behavior and preferences related to the stimuli on the SP-IAT. The main outcome measures were D-scores on implicit association tests and scores on explicit measures of sexual orientation and behaviors. Implicit measures showed a higher rate of gynephilia (67.8%) than explicit non-heterosexuality (19.6%), with consistent results across continents. The findings suggest that women may be attracted to other women without necessarily desiring sexual encounters with them. Furthermore, the results suggest a degree of fluidity in sexual preferences in the female population. Studying the prevalence of gynephilia and non-heterosexuality in adult women can inform the development of health promotion programs tailored to women's diverse sexual experiences and preferences. Strengths include the global sample and the use of both implicit and explicit measures. Limitations involve the cross-sectional web-based design, potential sample biases, and aspects related to the validity of the SP-IAT. Implicit measures of non-heterosexuality appear to be less tied to social factors than explicit assessments. In women, gynephilia may not necessarily serve as a proxy for non-heterosexuality. Moreover, women seem to exhibit greater fluidity in sexual preferences and behaviors than men.