Sexual Minorities within Heterosexuality: Psychosocial Characteristics of and Attitudes toward the "Fourth Love" in China.

Objective: Within the context of gender diversity, the concept of heterosexuality is also changing, emerging as a diversified sexual orientation and identity. This study aims to challenge the orthodoxy about heterosexuality by exploring the psychosocial characteristics and attitudes toward "fourth love" in China.

Method: Two studies initially explored the current status of fourth love as a sexual minority. In Study 1, The Sex-Role Inventory and the Marital Attitude Scale were used to assess fourth-love ( = 144) and traditionally heterosexual participants' ( = 145) gender roles and marriage attitudes. In study 2, the Attitudes Toward the Fourth Love Scale was developed to assess college students' ( = 315) attitudes toward fourth-love men and women.

Result: Fourth-love women often identify with masculine gender roles and significant differences were found between fourth-love and traditionally heterosexual women their gender roles. Fourth-love men identified with a neutral gender role, while there are significant differences between fourth-love men and traditionally heterosexual women in masculine gender roles. Fourth-love people's marriage attitudes were more negative than those of traditionally heterosexual people, especially for women. Various demographic factors influenced college students' attitudes toward the fourth love.

Conclusion: As a sexual minority within the umbrella of heterosexuality in China, fourth-love individuals require further research attention and increased support.