title: Asexual Identity in a New Zealand National Sample: Demographics, Well-Being, and Health.
abstract: Academic interest in asexuality has increased in recent years; however, there is yet to be a national probability study exploring the correlates of self-identifying as asexual. Here, we utilized data from the 2014/15 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study. Past research has typically used attraction-based measures; however, we asked participants to describe their sexual orientation using a self-generated, open-ended item, and 0.4% (n = 44) self-identified as asexual. We then compared self-identified asexual participants with a heterosexual reference group (n = 11,822) across a large number of demographic, psychological, and health variables. Relative to heterosexuals, self-identified asexual participants were (1) more likely to be women, and (2) substantially less likely to be cisgender, (3) in a serious romantic relationship, or (4) a parent. No deleterious mental or physical health effects were associated with asexuality when compared to heterosexuality. This study provides the first attempt at measuring self-identification as asexual in a national sample and highlights core similarities and differences between those who identify as asexual and heterosexual.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. lara.greaves@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Lara M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Greaves
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona Kate
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Yanshu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stronge
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Chris G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Sibley
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Asexuality; Sexual identity; Sexual orientation