Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults
Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence of same‐sex and opposite‐sex attraction and experience in Australia and the prevalence of different sexual identities. Method Computer‐assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16–59 years...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2003-04-01
|
| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00801.x |
| _version_ | 1797724861715447808 |
|---|---|
| author | Anthony M.A. Smith Chris E. Rissel Juliet Richters Andrew E. Grulich Richard O. deVisser |
| author_facet | Anthony M.A. Smith Chris E. Rissel Juliet Richters Andrew E. Grulich Richard O. deVisser |
| author_sort | Anthony M.A. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence of same‐sex and opposite‐sex attraction and experience in Australia and the prevalence of different sexual identities. Method Computer‐assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16–59 years from all States and Territories of Australia. The overall response rate was 73.1% (men, 69.4%; women, 77.6%). Men and women were asked about their experience of same‐sex and opposite‐sex attraction and experience along with their sexual identity. The agreement and disagreement between sexual attraction and sexual experience were explored. Results : Among men, 97.4% identified as heterosexual, 1.6% as gay or homosexual and 0.9% as bisexual. Among women, 97.7% identified as heterosexual, 0.8% as lesbian or homosexual and 1.4% as bisexual. Among men, 91.4% reported only opposite‐sex attraction and experience, as did 84.9% of women. Thus, some same‐sex attraction or experience was reported by 8.6% of men and 15.1% of women. Of men, 4.2% reported sexual attraction and sexual experience that was inconsistent, as did 8.2% of women. Factors associated with this agreement or disagreement included age group, non‐English‐speaking background, education and socio‐economic status. Conclusion Relatively few Australians reported a sexual identity other than heterosexual. However, both same‐sex attraction and homosexual experience are more common than homosexual or bisexual identity would suggest. Reporting same‐sex attraction or experience was associated with poorer mental health and is likely to reflect responses to homophobia in Australian society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:22:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b66e564f44564c1bbefc3b7632806047 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2003-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b66e564f44564c1bbefc3b76328060472023-09-02T09:59:13ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052003-04-0127213814510.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00801.xSex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adultsAnthony M.A. Smith0Chris E. Rissel1Juliet Richters2Andrew E. Grulich3Richard O. deVisser4Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, VictoriaHealth Promotion Unit, Central Sydney Area Health Service, and Australian Centre for Health Promotion, University of Sydney, New South WalesNational Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South WalesNational Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South WalesAustralian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, VictoriaAbstract Objective To describe the prevalence of same‐sex and opposite‐sex attraction and experience in Australia and the prevalence of different sexual identities. Method Computer‐assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16–59 years from all States and Territories of Australia. The overall response rate was 73.1% (men, 69.4%; women, 77.6%). Men and women were asked about their experience of same‐sex and opposite‐sex attraction and experience along with their sexual identity. The agreement and disagreement between sexual attraction and sexual experience were explored. Results : Among men, 97.4% identified as heterosexual, 1.6% as gay or homosexual and 0.9% as bisexual. Among women, 97.7% identified as heterosexual, 0.8% as lesbian or homosexual and 1.4% as bisexual. Among men, 91.4% reported only opposite‐sex attraction and experience, as did 84.9% of women. Thus, some same‐sex attraction or experience was reported by 8.6% of men and 15.1% of women. Of men, 4.2% reported sexual attraction and sexual experience that was inconsistent, as did 8.2% of women. Factors associated with this agreement or disagreement included age group, non‐English‐speaking background, education and socio‐economic status. Conclusion Relatively few Australians reported a sexual identity other than heterosexual. However, both same‐sex attraction and homosexual experience are more common than homosexual or bisexual identity would suggest. Reporting same‐sex attraction or experience was associated with poorer mental health and is likely to reflect responses to homophobia in Australian society.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00801.x |
| spellingShingle | Anthony M.A. Smith Chris E. Rissel Juliet Richters Andrew E. Grulich Richard O. deVisser Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| title | Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults |
| title_full | Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults |
| title_fullStr | Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults |
| title_short | Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults |
| title_sort | sex in australia sexual identity sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00801.x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anthonymasmith sexinaustraliasexualidentitysexualattractionandsexualexperienceamongarepresentativesampleofadults AT chriserissel sexinaustraliasexualidentitysexualattractionandsexualexperienceamongarepresentativesampleofadults AT julietrichters sexinaustraliasexualidentitysexualattractionandsexualexperienceamongarepresentativesampleofadults AT andrewegrulich sexinaustraliasexualidentitysexualattractionandsexualexperienceamongarepresentativesampleofadults AT richardodevisser sexinaustraliasexualidentitysexualattractionandsexualexperienceamongarepresentativesampleofadults |