Fergusson David M, Horwood L John, Ridder Elizabeth M, Beautrais Annette L
Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Psychol Med. 2005 Jul;35(7):971-81. doi: 10.1017/s0033291704004222.
This paper sought to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health in a New Zealand birth cohort studied to age 25 years.
The analysis is based on a sample of 967 participants (469 males; 498 females) in the Christchurch Health and Development Study. As part of this study information was gathered on: (a) measures of sexual orientation, same-sex behaviour and sexual attraction obtained at ages 21 and 25 years; (b) measures of mental disorders and suicidal behaviours over the interval 21-25 years; (c) measures of childhood and family background.
Latent class analysis was used to combine indicators of sexual orientation, same sex behaviour and attraction to form an empirically based classification of sexual orientation. The best-fitting model classified the sample into three groups: exclusively heterosexual orientation (87.6%); predominantly heterosexual but with same-sex inclinations or experience (9.6%); predominantly homosexual (2.8%). Proportionately more women than men were classified as predominantly heterosexual (14.2% v. 4.8% respectively) or predominantly homosexual (3.9% v. 1.5% respectively). Cohort members with a predominantly homosexual orientation had rates of mental disorder and suicidal behaviours that were between 1.5 and 12 times higher than for those with an exclusively heterosexual orientation. These associations persisted after adjustment for confounding. The associations between sexual orientation and mental health were more marked for males than females. CONCLUSIONS. The findings suggest a continuum of sexual preferences amongst young adults. Variations in sexual orientation were clearly associated with mental health. These associations tended to be stronger for males.
本文旨在研究新西兰一个出生队列中25岁人群的性取向与心理健康之间的关系。
该分析基于克赖斯特彻奇健康与发展研究中的967名参与者（469名男性；498名女性）样本。作为该研究的一部分，收集了以下信息：（a）在21岁和25岁时获得的性取向、同性行为和性吸引力测量数据；（b）21至25岁期间的精神障碍和自杀行为测量数据；（c）童年和家庭背景测量数据。
采用潜在类别分析将性取向、同性行为和吸引力指标相结合，形成基于经验的性取向分类。拟合度最佳的模型将样本分为三组：完全异性恋取向（87.6%）；主要为异性恋但有同性倾向或经历（9.6%）；主要为同性恋（2.8%）。被归类为主要异性恋的女性比例高于男性（分别为14.2%和4.8%），被归类为主要同性恋的女性比例也高于男性（分别为3.9%和1.5%）。主要为同性恋取向的队列成员患精神障碍和自杀行为的发生率比完全异性恋取向的成员高1.5至12倍。在对混杂因素进行调整后，这些关联仍然存在。性取向与心理健康之间的关联在男性中比在女性中更为明显。结论：研究结果表明年轻人中存在连续性的性偏好。性取向的差异与心理健康明显相关。这些关联在男性中往往更强。
