Recalled Childhood Gender Nonconformity Research Articles

Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Sexual Orientation Disparities in Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Parental Attitudes.

Purpose: This study tested whether sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms are partially explained by recalled childhood gender nonconformity and whether the proportion of this association explained by childhood gender nonconformity is moderated by recalled parental attitudes toward childhood gender nonconformity. Methods: A convenience sample of young adults was recruited from two Chinese online survey platforms (272 heterosexual males, 272 bisexual males, 272 gay males, 272 heterosexual females, 272 bisexual females, and 272 lesbian females). Both mediation and moderated mediation models were conducted. Results: For both sexes, bisexual and gay/lesbian individuals reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than heterosexual individuals, with total effects (standardized path coefficients) ranging from 0.25 to 0.38, all ps < 0.01. These sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms were partially explained by childhood gender nonconformity, with indirect effects ranging from 0.08 to 0.17, all ps < 0.001. The effect of childhood gender nonconformity on depressive symptoms was significantly moderated by parental attitudes. The mediating effect of childhood gender nonconformity on sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms was strongest at the more negative levels (one standard deviation [SD] above the mean) of parental attitudes and weakest at more tolerant levels (one SD below the mean) of parental attitudes. Conclusions: Childhood gender nonconformity may be a partial contributor to sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms and this indirect effect may be moderated by parental attitudes toward childhood gender nonconformity, with the indirect effect decreasing when parental attitudes move from negative toward more tolerant levels.

Associations between recalled childhood gender nonconformity and adult sexual dysfunction in Denmark: baseline assessment in the Project SEXUS cohort study.

Sexual dysfunctions may negatively affect an individual's self-perceived womanhood or manhood, but whether gender nonconformity in childhood or adolescence can influence adult sexual functioning has not been examined so far. To explore the possible link between recalled childhood gender nonconformity and sexual dysfunctions in adulthood in a large sample. We analyzed baseline questionnaire data from Project SEXUS, a nationally representative cohort study on sexual health among 15- to 89-year-old Danish citizens. Our sample included sexually active participants aged ≥18 years who were queried about gender nonconformity in childhood or adolescence (N = 21 390). To capture sexual dysfunctions, we assessed (1) difficulties with lubrication, orgasm, vaginal cramps precluding sexual intercourse, and/or genital pain during partnered sexual activity in women and (2) difficulties with erection, premature ejaculation, orgasm, and/or genital pain during partnered sexual activity in men. Furthermore, we assessed whether such difficulties were perceived as problematic. The 6-item Female Sexual Function Index and the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function served as standardized measures. Polytomous logistic regression analyses yielded demographically weighted adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs for associations between childhood gender nonconformity and sexual dysfunctions, controlling for age, sociodemographics, health-related factors, and other potential confounders. Sexual difficulties and dysfunctions, as well as scores on the Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function. Age-adjusted odds ratios indicated that sexual dysfunctions were significantly more common among childhood gender-nonconforming than conforming participants. After controlling for additional potential confounders, most sexual dysfunctions-notably, vaginal cramps in women (aOR,2.12; 95% CI, 1.25-3.60) and genital pain dysfunction in men (aOR,2.99; 95% CI, 1.79-4.99)-remained significantly increased among childhood gender-nonconforming respondents. Findings suggest that self-perceived gender nonconformity in childhood or adolescence may negatively affect sexual functioning in adult life. If confirmed by future studies, they may warrant a clinical emphasis on such issues in sexologic treatment and care. Our study is the first to report associations between childhood gender nonconformity and adult sexual dysfunction, building on data from a large-scale, nationally representative cohort study. The retrospective assessment of childhood gender nonconformity via one item might have neglected significant dimensions of this construct. The present study is the first to show that individuals who recall being gender nonconforming in childhood or adolescence may be at a greater risk of experiencing sexual dysfunctions, particularly sexual pain disorders, as adults.

Childhood Experiences and Mental Health of Sexual Minority Adults: Examining Three Models

ABSTRACT Three models of recalled childhood gender nonconformity (GNC) and maltreatment are proposed to explain disparities in current psychological distress and lifetime suicidality among sexual minority individuals, using a United States probability sample of cisgender lesbian/gay (n = 701), bisexual (n = 606), and other (e.g., queer, n = 182) adults. Indirect effects indicated that lesbian/gay individuals were more likely than bisexual individuals to experience maltreatment and suicidal ideation as childhood GNC increased. Other indirect effects found that bisexual individuals reported more psychological distress and greater likelihood of lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts than lesbian/gay individuals as maltreatment increased. The direct effects of sexual orientation were stronger than the indirect effects via maltreatment or GNC, with bisexual individuals reporting more maltreatment, distress, and suicidality than lesbian/gay individuals. Significant findings for individuals with other identities were similar to those of bisexual individuals. Adjusted findings were comparable for women and men. The findings indicated that sexual minority individuals reported experiences consistent with sexual minority stress during early developmental periods, before being aware of their sexual orientation. It is necessary to understand the early lived experiences of sexual minority individuals, differences between lesbian/gay and bisexual individuals in those experiences, and their implications for adaptation.

Low Perinatal Androgens Predict Recalled Childhood Gender Nonconformity in Men

The contributions of gonadal hormones to the development of human behavioral sex differences are subjects of intense scientific and social interest. Isolated gonadotropin-releasing-hormone deficiency (IGD) is a rare endocrine disorder that can reveal a possible role of early gonadal hormones. IGD is characterized by low or absent gonadal hormone production after the first trimester of gestation, but external genitalia and hence gender of rearing are concordant with chromosomal and gonadal sex. We investigated recalled childhood gender nonconformity in men (n = 65) and women (n = 32) with IGD and typically developing men (n = 463) and women (n = 1,207). Men with IGD showed elevated childhood gender nonconformity, particularly if they also reported undescended testes at birth, a marker of low perinatal androgens. Women with IGD did not differ from typically developing women. These results indicate that early androgen exposure after the first trimester contributes to male-typical gender-role behaviors in childhood.

Evidence for Perinatal Steroid Influence on Human Sexual Orientation and Gendered Behavior.

In laboratory animals, exposure to gonadal steroid hormones before and immediately after birth can exert permanent effects on many behaviors, particularly reproductive behaviors. The extent to which such effects occur in humans remains an open question, but several lines of evidence indicate that perinatal levels of both androgens and estrogens may affect adult human psychology and behavior, including sexual orientation and gender nonconformity. Some putative indicators of prenatal androgen exposure, including the ratio of the length of the index finger to that of the ring finger (2D:4D), have repeatedly indicated that lesbians, on average, were exposed to more prenatal androgens than straight women, suggesting that sufficient fetal androgen exposure predisposes a fetus to gynephilia (attraction to women) at maturity. The digit ratios of gay men do not differ from those of straight men, suggesting that prenatal androgen levels are not responsible for their androphilia (attraction to men). However, evidence that gay men who prefer an insertive anal sex role (ASR) have more masculine digit ratios than those preferring a receptive ASR suggests that early androgens influence some sexual preferences in men. Furthermore, digit ratios among gay men have been found to correlate with recalled childhood gender nonconformity (CGN). People with isolated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency (IGD) offer further insight into the effects of perinatal gonadal steroid exposure. In people with IGD, gonadal hormone production is low or absent after the first trimester of gestation. However, because placental gonadotropins drive gonadal hormone secretion during the first trimester when genitalia sexually differentiate, individuals with IGD are unambiguously male or female at birth, consistent with their chromosomal and gonadal sex. Men with IGD report greater CGN, again suggesting that perinatal androgen exposure contributes to male-typical behavioral patterns in humans. Interestingly, women with IGD report less androphilia and more bisexuality than control women, suggesting that perinatal ovarian steroids in females typically augment androphilia in adulthood. Taken together, these findings indicate that the perinatal hormonal milieu influences human sexual orientation and gender conformity.

Is Being Queer Gay? Sexual Attraction Patterns, Minority Stressors, and Psychological Distress in Non-Traditional Categories of Sexual Orientation

ABSTRACT This study examined characteristics of cisgender people who use non-traditional sexual orientation labels and investigated minority stress in these groups. Pansexual (n = 160), queer (n = 80), and asexual (n = 98) participants were compared with heterosexual (n = 1,021), bisexual (n = 1,518), and lesbian/gay (n = 2,730) individuals recruited from a cross-sectional survey. Participants were compared on sexual attraction, age, gender and childhood gender nonconformity. Hierarchical regression models with psychological distress as the dependent variable and outness, prejudice events, expectations of rejection, self-stigma, and rumination as independent variables were then tested in pansexual, queer, and asexual individuals. Sexual attraction, age, gender and recalled childhood gender nonconformity were significant predictors of group identity. Pansexual individuals were not significantly distinct from bisexual individuals in sexual attraction. Queer individuals fell between bisexual and lesbian/gay individuals in sexual attraction scores. Prejudice events and rumination were significantly associated with distress in all three non-traditional groups. Rumination scores attenuated the relationship between prejudice events and distress in all groups. These findings help characterize pansexual, asexual and queer individuals and suggest indirect effects of prejudice events on distress via rumination represent a worthy avenue for future minority stress research in these groups.

Familiality of Gender Nonconformity Among Homosexual Men.

We examined whether recalled childhood gender nonconformity and self-reported adult gender nonconformity is familial, using data from 1154 families selected for having at least two homosexual brothers. Specifically, we examined the extent to which homosexual men's variation in gender nonconformity runs in families by examining pairs of genetic brothers who were both homosexual (N = 672-697 full sibling concordant pairs). We also examined similarity between homosexual and heterosexual brothers (N = 79-82 full sibling discordant pairs). Consistent with past studies, concordant pairs yielded modest positive correlations consistent with moderate genetic and/or familial environmental effects on gender nonconformity. Unlike results of smaller past studies, discordant pairs also yielded modest positive, though nonsignificant, correlations. Our results support the feasibility of supplementing genetic studies of male sexual orientation with analyses of gender nonconformity variation.

Beliefs About Others’ Perceptions—Gender Typicality: Scale Development and Relationships to Gender Nonconformity, Sexual Orientation, and Well-Being

The purpose of this study was to develop a measure of “other-perceived” gender typicality and test its relationship with gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, and psychological distress. Data on these variables were collected from 632 participants (142 heterosexual men, 77 gay men, 50 bisexual men, 174 heterosexual women, 85 lesbian women, and 104 bisexual women). We designed a Beliefs About Others’ Perceptions—Gender Typicality (BOP-GT) scale on which participants reported how masculine or feminine they thought other people perceived their gendered behavior, interests, appearance, and activities. Factor analysis identified five factors: appearance, emotional response, sporting interests, occupational interests, and interpersonal style. Recalled childhood gender nonconformity (CGN) was significantly associated with each BOP-GT subscale. Heterosexual men rated that other people perceived them to be more masculine scoring on the BOP-GT compared to heterosexual women. Gay men and lesbian women showed cross-sexed patterns on the BOP-GT total scale, appearance, emotional response, and sporting interests scores. Bisexual men and women were generally no different from the other male and female groups, respectively. Bisexual women had greater distress scores, and the BOP-GT emotional response subscale was associated with somewhat greater distress scores. The BOP-GT measure may have use in future research on understanding gendered self-concepts.

Birth order and recalled childhood gender nonconformity in Samoan men and fa'afafine.

Having a greater than average number of older biological brothers is a robust correlate of male androphilia (i.e., sexual attraction and arousal to adult males). Previous investigations have sought to understand whether this fraternal birth order (FBO) effect is also systematically related to recalled indicators of childhood gender nonconformity (CGN). However, these investigations have relied on data from low-fertility Western populations in which expressions of femininity in male children are routinely stigmatized and consequently, suppressed. The present study examined the FBO effect (among other sibship characteristics) and recalled indicators of CGN in Samoa, a high-fertility population, whose members are relatively tolerant of male femininity. Indeed, Samoans identify feminine androphilic males as belonging to an alternative gender category, known locally as fa'afafine. The present study compared the sibship characteristics of 231 fa'afafine and 231 opposite-sex attracted men from Samoa, as well as how these characteristics related to recalled CGN. Results replicated the well-established FBO effect for predicting male sexual orientation, with each older brother increasing the odds of being androphilic by 21%. However, no relationship was found between the number of older brothers (or other siblings) a participant had and their recalled CGN. Although fa'afafine reported significantly more CGN than Samoan men, CGN did not mediate the FBO effect, nor did the FBO effect and CGN interact to predict male sexual orientation. These findings are consistent with previous studies suggesting that the FBO effect is associated with male sexual orientation, but not childhood female-typical gender expression among androphilic males.

Handedness is a biomarker of variation in anal sex role behavior and Recalled Childhood Gender Nonconformity among gay men.

Developmental theories of the biological basis of sexual orientation suggest that sexually differentiated psychological and behavioural traits should be linked with sexual orientation. Subgroups of gay men delineated by anal sex roles differ according to at least one such trait: gender expression. The present study assessed the hypothesis that handedness, a biologically determined sexually differentiated trait, corresponds to differences in subgroups of gay men based on anal sex role. Furthermore, it assessed whether handedness mediates the association between gender nonconformity and male sexual orientation. Straight and gay men (N = 333) completed the Edinburgh Inventory of Handedness and the Recalled Childhood Gender Nonconformity Scale. Gay men also completed measures of anal sex role preference. As in previous studies, gay men showed greater non-right-handedness and gender nonconformity than straight men. Also, among gay men, bottoms/versatiles (i.e., gay men who take a receptive anal sex role, or who take on both a receptive and insertive anal sex role) were more gender-nonconforming than tops (i.e., gay men who take an insertive anal sex role). In support of the hypothesis, bottoms/versatiles were more non-right-handed than tops and handedness mediated the male sexual orientation and anal sex role differences in Recalled Childhood Gender Nonconformity. Together, these findings suggest that developmental processes linked to handedness underpin variation among men in sexual orientation and gender nonconformity as well as variation among subgroups of gay men that are delineated by anal sex roles.

Recalled Gendered Behavior in Childhood: A Comparison of Androphilic Men, Gynephilic Men, and Androphilic Women in Japan.

The current study tested the hypothesis that men who are androphilic (sexually attracted to adult men) in a non-Western, developed country-Japan-would recall engaging in more female-typical behavior, and less male-typical behavior, in childhood, compared to men who are gynephilic (sexually attracted to adult women). Androphilic men, androphilic women, and gynephilic men (N=302) responded to the Female-Typical Behavior Subscale and the Male-Typical Behavior Subscale of the Childhood Gender Identity Scale, which asked participants to recall their childhood behavior. Results indicated that gynephilic men scored highest on the Male-Typical Behavior Subscale and lowest on the Female-Typical Behavior Subscale. Androphilic women scored the highest on the Female-Typical Behavior Subscale and lowest on the Male-Typical Behavior Subscale. Androphilic men scored intermediately for both the Male- and Female-Typical Behavior Subscales. The results supported the hypothesis that Japanese androphilic men would recall greater gender-nonconforming childhood behavior compared to gynephilic men. These results further reinforce the conclusion that childhood gender-nonconforming behavior is a cross-culturally universal aspect of psychosexual life course development in androphilic men. We discuss why this may be the case, as well as why cross-cultural variation occurs in the magnitude with which recalled childhood gender nonconformity is reported by androphilic males.

The Relationship between Adult Occupational Preferences and Childhood Gender Nonconformity among Samoan Women, Men, and Fa'afafine.

Previous research has found that sex differences in occupational preferences are both substantial and cross-culturally universal. Androphilic males tend to display "gender-shifted" occupational preferences, with relatively female-typical interests. Past research has overwhelmingly relied on Western samples; this article offers new insights from a non-Western setting. Known locally as fa'afafine, androphilic males in Samoa occupy a third-gender category. Data were collected in Samoa from 103 men, 103 women, and 103 fa'afafine regarding occupational preferences and recalled childhood gender nonconformity (CGN). A substantial sex difference was observed in the occupational preferences of men and women (d=2.04). Interestingly, women and fa'afafine did not differ in their preferences (p=0.89), indicating a complete gender inversion of occupational preferences in the latter. Although there was no correlation between women's CGN and masculine occupational preferences, there was a significant correlation (r=-0.62) between these variables in both men and fa'afafine. Among males (both men and fa'afafine), increased CGN was associated with preference for feminine occupations. The present research corroborates past findings and furnishes support for the conclusion that female-typical occupational preferences are a cross-culturally invariant aspect of male androphilia.

Multidimensional Assessment of Sexual Orientation and Childhood Gender Nonconformity: Implications for Defining and Classifying Sexual/Affectional Orientations

Although research on childhood gender nonconformity (CGN) has shown to be the only consistently correlated measure with adult self-identification of sexual orientation for men and women, little research has focused on other dimensions of sexual orientation are also correlated with CGN. In an online survey of adults (N = 2,372), information on participants’ self-identified sexual orientations, sexual attractions, sexual behaviors, and sexual fantasies correlated with recalled CGN. The only significant predictor that an adult would recall CGN behaviors was sexual attraction. Implications of the findings as well as limitations to the current study are discussed.

Common genetic factors among sexual orientation, gender nonconformity, and number of sex partners in female twins: implications for the evolution of homosexuality.

Homosexuality is a stable population-level trait in humans that lowers direct fitness and yet is substantially heritable, resulting in a so-called Darwinian "paradox." Evolutionary models have proposed that polymorphic genes influencing homosexuality confer a reproductive benefit to heterosexual carriers, thus offsetting the fitness costs associated with persistent homosexuality. This benefit may consist of a "sex typicality" intermediate phenotype. However, there are few empirical tests of this hypothesis using genetically informative data in humans. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that common genetic factors can explain the association between measures of sex typicality, mating success, and homosexuality in a Western (British) sample of female twins. Here, we used data from 996 female twins (498 twin pairs) comprising 242 full dizygotic pairs and 256 full monozygotic pairs (mean age 56.8) and 1,555 individuals whose co-twin did not participate. Measures of sexual orientation, sex typicality (recalled childhood gender nonconformity), and mating success (number of lifetime sexual partners) were completed. Variables were subject to multivariate variance component analysis. We found that masculine women are more likely to be nonheterosexual, report more sexual partners, and, when heterosexual, also report more sexual partners. Multivariate twin modeling showed that common genetic factors explained the relationship between sexual orientation, sex typicality, and mating success through a shared latent factor. Our findings suggest that genetic factors responsible for nonheterosexuality are shared with genetic factors responsible for the number of lifetime sexual partners via a latent sex typicality phenotype in human females. These results may have implications for evolutionary models of homosexuality but are limited by potential mediating variables (such as personality traits) and measurement issues.

183. Exploring the Influence of Minority Stress on the Transition From High School to College Among LGBQ Young Adults

with current psychological symptomology in a sample of YMSM aged 16-20. Methods: This study was comprised of 449 cases selected from a community-based, longitudinal sample of YMSM (N1⁄4450; aged 16-20) recruited through modified respondent-driven sampling. Participants completed computer-assisted self-interviews assessing retrospective counts of ESE incidents (trichotimized to 0, 1-4, and >5), recalled childhood gender expression (e.g., conforming vs. nonconforming), and current psychological symptom counts (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD, impulsivity, suicidality). Bivariate analyses were conducted between the measures of ESE, childhood gender expression, and mental health. Significant bivariate outcomes informed subsequent multivariable logistic regression models predicting the likelihood of psychological symptomology by ESE, and childhood gender expression. Results: Results indicated that ESE and childhood gender expression predict psychological symptoms in YMSM. The majority (53%) of the ethnically-diverse sample was African American (Latino1⁄4 20%, European American1⁄4 18%, Other1⁄4 9%), almost half the entire sample (46%) reported at least one ESE incident, and 25% of the sample reported childhood nonconformity. Compared with those not reporting ESE, YMSM reporting ESE were more likely to endorse psychological symptoms consistent with PTSD (p<.05) and depression (p<.05), impulsivity (p<.05) and a tendency to report suicidality (p<.10) (e.g., ideation, past attempt). With childhood gender expression taken into account, YMSM who recalled childhood gender nonconformity reported a past suicide attempt (p<.05) and tended to report higher ESE than YMSM without childhood gender nonconformity (p1⁄4 .08). Multivariable regression analysis indicated that, among YMSM without ESE, childhood gender nonconformity alone did not significantly predict symptoms related to PTSD, depression, or suicidality. However, YMSM with ESE and childhood gender nonconformity were more likely to report current symptoms of PTSD (OR1⁄42.83, 95% CI1⁄41.39, 5.79), depression (OR1⁄42.82, 95% CI1⁄41.52, 5.23), and suicidal attempts (OR 1⁄4 3.12, 95% CI1⁄41.46, 6.69) than gender-conforming YMSM without ESE. Among the subgroup of YMSM reporting childhood gender conformity, those with ESE were at greater odds of reporting PTSD-related hypervigilance (OR1⁄41.87; 95% CI1⁄41.17, 3.00) than those without ESE. Conclusions: YMSM with childhood gender nonconformity may be disproportionately victimized by CSA and go on to develop psychological symptoms beginning in adolescence. Early intervention addressing these factors may help reduce adolescent HIV risk behavior. Sources of Support: National Institute on Drug Abuse Award Number R01DA025548 (PIs: Garofalo, Mustanski).

Gender Nonconformity, Intelligence, and Sexual Orientation

The present study explored whether there were relationships among gender nonconformity, intelligence, and sexual orientation. A total of 106 heterosexual men, 115 heterosexual women, and 103 gay men completed measures of demographic variables, recalled childhood gender nonconformity (CGN), and the National Adult Reading Test (NART). NART error scores were used to estimate Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) and Verbal IQ (VIQ) scores. Gay men had significantly fewer NART errors than heterosexual men and women (controlling for years of education). In heterosexual men, correlational analysis revealed significant associations between CGN, NART, and FSIQ scores (elevated boyhood femininity correlated with higher IQ scores). In heterosexual women, the direction of the correlations between CGN and all IQ scores was reversed (elevated girlhood femininity correlating with lower IQ scores). There were no significant correlations among these variables in gay men. These data may indicate a "sexuality-specific" effect on general cognitive ability but with limitations. They also support growing evidence that quantitative measures of sex-atypicality are useful in the study of trait sexual orientation.

The Relation Between Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Adult Masculinity–Femininity and Anxiety in Heterosexual and Homosexual Men and Women

Recalled childhood gender nonconformity (CGN) and adult traits—e.g., masculinity–femininity of occupational preferences (MF-Occ), self-ascribed masculinity–femininity (Self-MF), self-reported anxiety—were assessed in an ethnically diverse US convenience sample of California college students and gay pride attendees, including 238 heterosexual men, 127 gay men, 343 heterosexual women, and 197 lesbian women. CGN showed large heterosexual–homosexual and gender differences, with homosexual individuals higher than heterosexual individuals and women higher than men. CGN was significantly associated with both men’s and women’s MF-Occ and Self-MF, both within and across sexual orientations. CGN was associated with self-reported anxiety for men but not for women, a finding true for both heterosexual and gay men, suggesting that CGN had a more negative impact on men than women.

Selective sexual orientation-related differences in object location memory.

The present study examined sexual orientation-related differences in object location memory by using 3 object arrays (testing object exchange, object shift, and novel objects conditions) and 1 metric positional memory array. Heterosexual women and homosexual men significantly outperformed heterosexual men in all 3 object arrays. However, there were no group differences in metric positional memory. Heterosexual males expectedly outperformed the other groups in spatial perception (Judgment of Line Orientation; A. L. Benton, K. D. Hamsher, N. R. Varney, & O. Spreen, 1983). Regression modeling revealed that sexual orientation and spatial perception predicted object exchange performance, whereas recalled childhood gender nonconformity, a robust developmental marker of adult sexual orientation, predicted object shift and novel object performance alone. A measure ascribed to the actions of prenatal androgens, the 2nd to 4th finger length ratio, did not predict object location memory. These data may limit possible developmental pathways for sexual variation in selective forms of spatial memory.

Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Body Dissatisfaction in Gay and Heterosexual Men.

Although researchers have long hypothesized a relation between gender role orientation (i.e., masculinity and femininity) and body dissatisfaction, findings have been inconsistent. The current study employed a measure of recalled childhood gender nonconformity to examine gender role behaviors in association with body dissatisfaction among an ethnically diverse (76% Caucasian, 2% African American, 8% Asian, and 16.4% Hispanic American) group of predominantly college-aged males of both homosexual (n = 129) and heterosexual (n = 52) orientation. Consistent with past research, gay males reported more body dissatisfaction and recalled more childhood gender atypical behaviors (e.g., disliking athletics, playing with dolls). Group differences in body dissatisfaction, however, disappeared when childhood gender nonconformity was statistically controlled, suggesting childhood atypical gender role behavior may place males at greater risk for adult body dissatisfaction. A within-group analysis also found that a “high feminine” subtype of gay males had greater body dissatisfaction than “less feminine” subtypes had. Results support the assertion that gender role behaviors may contribute to body dissatisfaction among gay males.

Effects of recalled childhood gender nonconformity on adult genitoerotic role and AIDS exposure. HNRC Group.

The connections between childhood gender nonconformity (assessed by the Freund Feminine Gender Identity Scale, or FGI) and adult genitoerotic role (assessed by a sex history) were examined. The core sample was a group of 106 men who had sex with other men before 1980 and who are currently enrolled in two longitudinal studies of AIDS. Although other workers have cautioned against assuming a priori that childhood gender role is inherently related to adult preferences for particular sexual acts, our data suggest that there is at least a statistical association between these two concepts. In particular, the FGI (and many of its factors and items) are significantly associated with preferences for receptive anal intercourse and, less clearly, with oral-anal contact--but not with oral-genital intercourse or insertive and intercourse. Suggestions for AIDS prevention and safe-sex awareness are made on the basis of these findings. The data also suggest that in sex research involving homosexual men, the correct genitoerotic role distinction is not insertive vs. receptive behaviors, or even insertive vs. receptive and intercourse, but receptive anal intercourse vs. all other behaviors.