Department of Sociology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA.
The Ruth Institute, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70605, USA.
F1000Res. 2021 Mar 18;10:222. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.51209.2. eCollection 2021.
Voluntary therapeutic interventions to reduce unwanted same-sex sexuality are collectively known as sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). Currently almost all evidence addressing the contested question whether SOCE is effective or safe consists of anecdotes or very small sample qualitative studies of persons who currently identify as sexual minority and thus by definition failed to change. We conducted this study to examine the efficacy and risk outcomes for a group of SOCE participants unbiased by current sexual orientation. Methods: We examined a convenience sample of 125 men who had undergone SOCE for homosexual-to-heterosexual change in sexual attraction, identity and behavior, and for positive and negative changes in psychosocial problem domains (depression, suicidality, self-harm, self-esteem, social function, and alcohol or substance abuse). Mean change was assessed by parametric (t-test) and nonparametric (Wilcoxon sign rank test) significance tests. Results: Exposure to SOCE was associated with significant declines in same-sex attraction (from 5.7 to 4.1 on the Kinsey scale, p <.000), identification (4.8 to 3.6, p < .000), and sexual activity (2.4 to 1.5 on a 4-point scale of frequency, p < .000). From 45% to 69% of SOCE participants achieved at least partial remission of unwanted same-sex sexuality; full remission was achieved by 14% for sexual attraction and identification, and 26% for sexual behavior. Rates were higher among married men, but 4-10% of participants experienced increased same-sex orientation after SOCE. From 0.8% to 4.8% of participants reported marked or severe negative psychosocial change following SOCE, but 12.1% to 61.3% reported marked or severe positive psychosocial change. Net change was significantly positive for all problem domains. Conclusion: SOCE was perceived as an effective and safe therapeutic practice by this sample of participants. We close by offering a unifying understanding of discrepant findings within this literature and caution against broad generalizations of our results.
自愿的治疗干预以减少不想要的同性性行为通常被称为性取向改变努力（SOCE）。目前，几乎所有关于 SOCE 是否有效或安全的有争议问题的证据都由轶事或对目前自认为是性少数群体的人的非常小样本定性研究组成，因此根据定义未能改变。我们进行这项研究是为了检查一组 SOCE 参与者的疗效和风险结果，这些参与者不受当前性取向的影响。
我们检查了 125 名男性的便利样本，他们接受了 SOCE，以改变性吸引力、身份和行为的同性恋倾向为异性恋，以及在心理社会问题领域（抑郁、自杀意念、自残、自尊、社会功能和酒精或药物滥用）的积极和消极变化。通过参数（t 检验）和非参数（Wilcoxon 符号秩检验）显著性检验评估均值变化。
暴露于 SOCE 与同性吸引力显著下降相关（金赛量表从 5.7 降至 4.1，p<.000），认同（4.8 降至 3.6，p<.000）和性活动（4 分制频率量表上的 2.4 降至 1.5，p<.000）。45%至 69%的 SOCE 参与者至少部分缓解了不想要的同性性行为；14%的人在性吸引力和认同方面完全缓解，26%的人在性行为方面完全缓解。已婚男性的比例较高，但 4-10%的参与者在 SOCE 后同性取向增加。0.8%至 4.8%的参与者报告 SOCE 后出现明显或严重的负面心理社会变化，但 12.1%至 61.3%的参与者报告出现明显或严重的积极心理社会变化。所有问题领域的净变化均为正值。
本研究中的参与者认为 SOCE 是一种有效且安全的治疗实践。最后，我们提供了对该文献中不同发现的统一理解，并警告不要对我们的结果进行广泛概括。
