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Measurement of Sexual Identity in Surveys: Implications for Substance Abuse Research

Abstract  

Researchers are increasingly recognizing the need to include measures of sexual orientation in health studies. However, relatively
little attention has been paid to how sexual identity, the cognitive aspect of sexual orientation, is defined and measured.
Our study examined the impact of using two separate sexual identity question formats: a three-category question (response
options included heterosexual, bisexual, or lesbian/gay), and a similar question with five response options (only lesbian/gay,
mostly lesbian/gay, bisexual, mostly heterosexual, only heterosexual). A large probability-based sample of undergraduate university
students was surveyed and a randomly selected subsample of participants was asked both sexual identity questions. Approximately
one-third of students who identified as bisexual based on the three-category sexual identity measure chose “mostly heterosexual”
or “mostly lesbian/gay” on the five-category measure. In addition to comparing sample proportions of lesbian/gay, bisexual,
or heterosexual participants based on the two question formats, rates of alcohol and other drug use were also examined among
the participants. Substance use outcomes among the sexual minority subgroups differed based on the sexual identity question
format used: bisexual participants showed greater risk of substance use in analyses using the three-category measure whereas
“mostly heterosexual” participants were at greater risk when data were analyzed using the five-category measure. Study results
have important implications for the study of sexual identity, as well as whether and how to recode responses to questions
related to sexual identity.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Pages 1-9
  • DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9768-7
  • Authors
    • Sean Esteban McCabe, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1290, USA
    • Tonda L. Hughes, Mental Health and Administrative Nursing, Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
    • Wendy Bostwick, Public Health and Health Education Programs, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
    • Michele Morales, Substance Abuse Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
    • Carol J. Boyd, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1290, USA
    • Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
    • Online ISSN 1573-2800
    • Print ISSN 0004-0002
Posted in: Journal Article Abstracts on 05/17/2011 | Link to this post on IFP |
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