Department of Sociology and Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University, 601 Bellamy Bldg, 113 Collegiate Loop, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-2240, USA.
Department of Sociology, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, USA.
Arch Sex Behav. 2021 Nov;50(8):3587-3599. doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02043-3. Epub 2021 Oct 25.
Theories of sexual identity development recognize the initiation of sexual experience with same-sex partners (SESSP) to be a significant event in the coming-out process, yet the research literature lacks a population-based description of its timing and variation across population subgroups. Using data from the 2011-2017 National Survey of Family Growth and guided by the life course paradigm, we explored the timing and correlates of first SESSP among individuals (1425 women; 545 men) who identified as lesbian (n = 307), gay (n = 285), or bisexual (n = 1378) (LGB). Descriptive findings revealed that the median age at first SESSP was about 19 years for lesbian women and gay men and one to two years later for bisexual women and men. Notably, initiation of SESSP occurred over a wide age range, particularly among bisexual men. Multivariable results indicated that the probability of first SESSP did not vary by demographic characteristics or family background among men. Among women, nativity status, family stability, and independent living were associated with probability of first SESSP. Coital experience predicted timing among both women and men. Tests for statistical interactions suggested that age at first SESSP was contingent on mother's education (women), sexual identity (men), family stability (men), and birth cohort (women and men). Our findings highlight the complicated nature of LGB sexual experiences, and we end with a call for greater effort to ensure that LGB individuals are represented in national surveys designed to provide data on sexual and reproductive health.
性认同发展理论承认与同性伴侣发生性行为（SESSP）是出柜过程中的一个重要事件，但研究文献缺乏对其时间和人口亚群变化的基于人群的描述。本研究使用 2011-2017 年全国家庭增长调查的数据，并以生命历程范式为指导，探讨了识别为女同性恋者（n=307）、男同性恋者（n=285）或双性恋者（n=1378）（LGB）的个体首次发生 SESSP 的时间和相关因素。描述性发现表明，女同性恋者和男同性恋者首次发生 SESSP 的中位年龄约为 19 岁，而女双性恋者和男双性恋者则晚一到两年。值得注意的是，SESSP 的开始年龄范围很广，尤其是在男双性恋者中。多变量结果表明，男性的首次 SESSP 概率不受人口特征或家庭背景的影响。而在女性中，出生地点、家庭稳定性和独立生活与首次发生 SESSP 的概率有关。性行为经验预测了女性和男性的发生时间。统计交互检验表明，首次发生 SESSP 的年龄取决于母亲的教育程度（女性）、性认同（男性）、家庭稳定性（男性）和出生队列（女性和男性）。我们的研究结果突出了 LGB 性经历的复杂性，最后呼吁加大努力，确保在为性健康和生殖健康提供数据而设计的全国性调查中代表 LGB 个体。
