Associations Between Three Measures of Sexual Orientation and High Risk Sexual Behaviors in Young Adults

This study examines associations between three separate measures of sexual orientation: condom use, number of sexual partners, and time before sex with a new partner. Data come from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, and include 11,619 participants (mean age = 22) who provided complete data on sexual orientation and behavior. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to examine associations between sexual orientation measures and sexual behaviors. Results indicate that males with a same-sex orientation (using an attraction, behavior or identity measure) were more likely than those with an opposite-sex or both-sex orientation to report engaging in sexual activity after a very brief acquaintance, and females with a both-sex orientation (using any measure) were more likely than those with an opposite- or same-sex orientation to report having multiple sexual partners. Associations with condom use and number of partners (for males) and length of acquaintance before sex (for females) differed based on the measure of sexual orientation used. Measures of sexual orientation are not interchangeable. Researchers and practitioners need to be explicit about the population they wish to sample, describe and target with interventions.