Worldwide study reveals fluid sexual preferences in females and no association between gynephilia and non-heterosexuality.

Abstract

Background: Social factors and a lack of clearself-awareness may prevent women from explicitly reporting their non-heterosexuality, and implicit measures could provide more reliable data.

Aim: This study examined non-heterosexuality and gynephilia in a large, global sample of women using implicit and explicit methods.

Methods: A sample of 491 women participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a biographical questionnaire, the Autobiographical-Implicit Association Test, the Sexual Preference-Implicit Association Test (SP-IAT), and an explicit measure of sexual orientation. In a follow-up study, 263 participants were recontacted and completed the Autobiographical Sexual Orientation IAT and answered additional questions about their sexual behavior and preferences related to the stimuli on the SP-IAT.

Outcomes: The main outcome measures were D-scores on implicit association tests and scores on explicit measures of sexual orientation and behaviors.

Results: Implicit measures showed a higher rate of gynephilia (67.8%) than explicit non-heterosexuality (19.6%), with consistent results across continents. The findings suggest that women may be attracted to other women without necessarily desiring sexual encounters with them. Furthermore, the results suggest a degree of fluidity in sexual preferences in the female population.

Clinical implications: Studying the prevalence of gynephilia and non-heterosexuality in adult women can inform the development of health promotion programs tailored to women's diverse sexual experiences and preferences.

Strengths & limitations: Strengths include the global sample and the use of both implicit and explicit measures. Limitations involve the cross-sectional web-based design, potential sample biases, and aspects related to the validity of the SP-IAT.

Conclusion: Implicit measures of non-heterosexuality appear to be less tied to social factors than explicit assessments. In women, gynephilia may not necessarily serve as a proxy for non-heterosexuality. Moreover, women seem to exhibit greater fluidity in sexual preferences and behaviors than men.