An Exploratory Study of the Categorical Versus Spectrum Nature of Sexual Orientation

Abstract

This exploratory study investigated the nature of sexual orientation (categorical or spectrum) by assessing the relative ability of sexual and romantic indicators to be predicted by sexual orientation labels. Young adults from a variety of community and college venues (N =292) reported their sexual orientation label on a 9-point scale; from a 10-item list, their sexual identity; and the percentage of their sexual attraction, fantasy, genital contact, infatuation, and romantic relationship directed to males and females. Although the five indicators were significantly intercorrelated and sexual orientation labels predicted each indicator, discrepancies existed across indicators in relationship to sexual orientation (highest for attraction, lowest for romantic relationship). Sexual identity and sexual orientation label were strongly related at the ends of the sexual spectrum, less so in the middle. Men were nearly as nonexclusive as women. Study results supported the perspective that sexual orientation is a continuously distributed individual characteristic.

Acknowledgments

The author is indebted to Dr. Gerulf Rieger for statistical assistance and comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

Notes

Note.

⁺First line = mean percentage (range) of sexual indicator for each sexual orientation label. Second line = lower and upper 95% confidence levels; sexual orientation labels in row that share same letter do not significantly (p < .05) differ from each other.

^*ANOVA for each indicator across sexual orientation labels at the p < .0001.