We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Adolescents define sexual orientation and suggest ways to measure it
- Authors
Friedman, Mark S.; Silvestre, Anthony J.; Gold, Melanie A.; Markovic, Nina; Savin-Williams, Ritch C.; Huggins, James; Sell, Randal L.
- Abstract
Researchers disagree on how to assess adolescent sexual orientation. The relative importance of various dimensions (e.g. attraction, relationships, behavior, self-labeling) is unknown, which calls into question the validity of studies assessing adolescent sexual orientation. To address this issue, 50 male and female adolescents of varied sexual orientations participated in focus groups and interviews. Two types of sexual attraction—one a physiologic reaction and the other a cognitive response—were central to adolescent sexual orientation. Participants did not perceive sexual behavior and self-identification as necessarily relevant. Preliminary items to measure sexual attraction were developed based on these adolescents’ perceptions.
- Subjects
SEXUAL orientation; TEENAGERS; SEXUAL psychology; INTERPERSONAL attraction
- Publication
Journal of Adolescence, 2004, Vol 27, Issue 3, p303
- ISSN
0140-1971
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1016/j.adolescence.2004.03.006