Bidentity: Sexual Behavior/Identity Congruence and Women's Sexual, Physical and Mental Well-Being

Abstract

According to cognitive dissonance theory, the co-occurrence of inconsistent cognitions may result in psychological distress. This distress may lead to undesirable health outcomes. This study explored the role of sexual behavior/identity congruence on women's mental, physical and sexual well-being. A total of 2,578 women who reported sexual attraction, desire, affection, intentions and/or behavior involving other women completed a web-based survey about their sexual identity/orientation, sexual behavior and wellbeing across domains. Participants whose recent sexual partnering matched their sexual identity reported fewer mentally/physically unhealthy days and also better sexual experiences. The well-being of queer-identified women did not significantly vary as a function

Sexual Identity–Behavior Profiles and Suicide Outcomes Among Heterosexual, Lesbian, and Gay Sexually Active Adolescents

“…Finally, youth within the profiles representing SMY (by different combinations of nonexclusive heterosexual identity and behavior) more frequently endorsed experiencing bullying and feelings of sadness/hopelessness. These reports of bullying and sadness among adolescents within the four sexual identity–behavior profiles align with past research (CDC, 2016; Krueger et al, 2018; Marshal et al, 2011; Schick et al, 2012).…”

“…Yet, these actions of sexual contact with other‐sex partners, although intended to align the individual with the normative standard and relieve emotional discomfort, may also contradict their self‐concept, subsequently generating distress that only compounds the dejected depression. In addition, these adolescents might also be experiencing internalized heterosexism/homophobia, loss of support, and identity concealment, which are all correlated with poor mental health outcomes or suicide (Cohen, Blasey, Taylor, Weiss, & Newman, 2016; Frost & Meyer, 2009; Schick et al, 2012; Szymanski & Owens, 2008).…”

“…For example, if only assessing sexual identity, those who identify as heterosexual are usually not considered a high‐risk group, but they may have same‐sex partners. Research indicates that this group in particular may be at risk for poor mental health outcomes, such as increased drug use, anxiety, decreased overall well‐being, and depression (Bauer, Jairam, & Baidoobonso, 2010; Gattis, Sacco, & Cunningham‐Williams, 2012; Krueger, Meyer, & Upchurch, 2018; Schick, Rosenberger, Herbenick, Calabrese, & Reece, 2012).…”

“…Research on the increased risk of unintended teen pregnancies among lesbian adolescents, for example, found that these youth are more likely to have experienced discrimination related to the disclosure of (or suspicion of) a sexual minority identity (Saewyc, Poon, Homma, & Skay, 2008) and may be attempting to avoid or cope with the stigma related to their sexual orientation by having sex with male partners (Charlton et al, 2018). Both heterosexual youth with same‐sex partners and lesbian or gay (LG) youth with other‐sex partners might be experiencing distress related to: (1) internalized heterosexism informed by society’s constructed ideals of sexual orientation (Szymanski, Kashubeck‐West, & Meyer, 2008b); (2) attempts to avoid overt discrimination, for example, by family or peers (Frost & Meyer, 2009); (3) striving to attain or maintain privileges that come with a nonstigmatized and socially rewarded identity (Schick et al, 2012); and (4) the fear of losing support from friends and family, or alternatively, from other LG individuals among adolescents who identify as LG with other‐sex partners (Nield et al, 2015; Rust, 1992; Schick et al, 2012).…”

Sexual Self-Identification Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the Midwestern United States

“…Discordance is therefore necessarily viewed as bad, inauthentic, or unhealthy. Negative health outcomes–including obesity, substance use, depression, suicidality, and sexually transmitted infections--have been found in those whose sexual behavior and identity are discordant (Dodge & Sandfort, 2007; Friedman et al, 2014; Schick, Rosenberger, Herbenick, Calabrese, & Reece, 2012). However, an assumption of a causal relationship between identity-behavior discordance and negative health outcomes presupposes existence of a singular “authentic” sexuality (usually referred to as orientation) that represents sexual arousal, which in turn drives sexual behaviors with specific types of partners (Bailey, 2009).…”