Sexual orientation and height, weight, and age of puberty: new tests from a British national probability sample.

Biol Psychol

Department of Community Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada L2S 3A1.

Published: March 2002

Research using non-representative samples indicates that certain sex-dimorphic physical, developmental and behavioral variables predict sexual orientation. In this study, three sex-dimorphic physical development variables-height, weight, and age of puberty/sexual maturation-and sexual orientation were examined in a British national probability sample (N=18,876). Women with same-sex inclinations (particularly bisexuals) had an earlier first sexual experience (approx. 1.4 years) and were taller (approx. 1 cm) than heterosexual women, but the height/sexual orientation relationship was complex. Lesbian/bisexual women did not differ from heterosexual women in age at menarche or in weight. Men with same-sex inclinations (particularly bisexuals) had an earlier first sexual experience relative to heterosexual men (approx. 3 months). Homosexual men did not significantly differ from heterosexual men in height or in weight, although there was some evidence that bisexual men were taller than heterosexual men (approx. 1 cm). The results challenge some prior research on sexual orientation and physical development using non-representative samples.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0301-0511(01)00131-4DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

sexual orientation
16
heterosexual men
12
height weight
8
weight age
8
british national
8
national probability
8
probability sample
8
non-representative samples
8
sex-dimorphic physical
8
physical development
8

Similar Publications

This paper analyzes medical-sexological and sexual-psychological public discourse in Hungary between the Second World War and the regime change, through counseling and science communication books. It engages with works on the history of Hungarian socialist sexual discourse. It differs from such works in two main respects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Communication is crucial for mate choice and thus for the survival and fitness of most species. In the cricket, females choose males according to their calling-song attractiveness and, exhibiting positive phonotaxis they approach the chosen male. Light has been widely reported to induce changes in crickets' daily activity patterns, including the males' stridulation behavior.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

External female genital mutilation (EFGM) is a type of traumatic mating in which males damage female genitalia, resulting in the loss of female re-mating ability. This study examined whether sexual conflict underlies EFGM by examining the possible female reproductive costs from the decreased number of matings in spider, . The female typically receives sperm from a male twice during a mating bout.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Adolescents encounter numerous healthcare access barriers, leading to poor health outcomes. Researchers developed the Total Teen (TT) program to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and mental health (MH) services in settings providing adolescents and young adults (12-25) health services. This pilot study assessed the TT's impact on care across three settings: school-based health clinics, a federally qualified health center, and an adolescent health clinic for 12 weeks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is an independent, modifiable risk factor for HIV, but limited research addresses alcohol use and HIV prevention synergistically. Groups that experience chronic stigma, discrimination, and/or other marginalization, such as sexual and gender minoritized groups, may have enhanced HIV risk related to unhealthy alcohol use. We described awareness of and experiences with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among a community sample of Veterans reporting unhealthy alcohol use (relative to those without), overall and across self-reported sexual orientation and gender identity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!