title: Endorsement and Timing of Sexual Orientation Developmental Milestones Among Sexual Minority Young Adults in the Growing Up Today Study.
abstract: This research examined endorsement and timing of sexual orientation developmental milestones. Participants were 1,235 females and 398 males from the Growing Up Today Study, ages 22 to 29 years, who endorsed a sexual minority orientation (lesbian/gay, bisexual, mostly heterosexual) or reported same-gender sexual behavior (heterosexual with same-gender sexual experience). An online survey measured current sexual orientation and endorsement and timing (age first experienced) of five sexual orientation developmental milestones: same-gender attractions, other-gender attractions, same-gender sexual experience, other-gender sexual experience, and sexual minority identification. Descriptive analyses and analyses to test for gender and sexual orientation group differences were conducted. Results indicated that women were more likely than men to endorse same-gender attraction, other-gender attraction, and other-gender sexual experience, with the most gender differences in endorsement among mostly heterosexuals and heterosexuals with same-gender sexual experience. In general, men reached milestones earlier than women, with the most gender differences in timing among lesbian and gay individuals and heterosexuals with same-gender sexual experience. Results suggest that the three sexual minority developmental milestones may best characterize the experiences of lesbians, gay males, and female and male bisexuals. More research is needed to understand sexual orientation development among mostly heterosexuals and heterosexuals with same-gender sexual experience.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics , Harvard Medical School.
authors.forename: Sabra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Katz-Wise
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , City University of New York-City College and Graduate Center.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosario
authors.affiliation: a Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics , Harvard Medical School.
authors.forename: Jerel P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Calzo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Community and Family Medicine , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: d Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine , Boston Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Vishnudas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sarda
authors.affiliation: e Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics , Harvard Medical School.|f Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences , Harvard School of Public Health.|g Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine , Brigham and Women's Hospital.
authors.forename: S Bryn
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult