Examining Discrepancies Among Sexual Orientation Components in a Representative Sample of Men at Risk for HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The study compares the effects associated with sexual orientation components (sexual identity, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior in the past three months) on rates of reported mental illness and risky sexual behavior in a representative sample of men at high risk for HIV/AIDS. Important differences between populations of individuals who responded consistently and inconsistently across sexual orientation components were observed, and effects in each of these populations were different that those in the combined sample. These findings suggest that the effects of one sexual orientation component may depend on associations among components, and thus researchers should be cautious when examining single components in isolation.

KEYWORDS:

• sexual identity
• sexual behavior
• sexual attraction
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual
• sexual orientation
• mental illness
• HIV/AIDS

This research was supported by a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the IDPH HIV Evaluation Committee and Ric Underhile for their assistance in developing the survey, regional lead agents and subcontracting agencies throughout the state for their assistance in recruiting interviewers and participants, and Amy Rogers and Arron Service for their role in the data collection and management.