Poster #187 - Sexual Subjectivity in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults

• In Event: 3-003 - Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Section - Sex, Gender

Integrative Statement

Although developmental psychologists have articulated a need for more competency-based research on sexual development, research with sexual minorities has been hampered by a lack of validated measures. This study sought to validate a measure of sexual self-concept in a young LGB sample. Sexual subjectivity (SS) is a key component of the sexual self-concept and vital to a holistic, resilience-based view of sexuality. In heterosexual youth samples, SS is associated with general well-being, psychosocial adjustment, sexual self-efficacy, and relationship quality. Given the significance of positive SS, a reliable and valid measure for LGB people is needed to inform theory and research on competency-based sexual development, as well as efforts to promote health equity. Methods: Data come from a web-based survey of sexual identity and acceptance. The primary measure of this study was the Sexual Subjectivity Inventory (SSI), a 20-item measure of five key facets of SS (i.e., sexual self-efficacy, sexual body-esteem, entitlement to sexual pleasure from self and partner, and sexual self-reflection). Participants included 750 LGB U.S. residents ages 18-25 years recruited through MTurk (17% lesbian; 27% gay; bisexual, 31% female, 24% male). Results: Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a well-fitting model with the identical factor structure reported among heterosexual samples: 5 latent variables and 20 single-item indicators (χ2(160) = 635.53, p < .05 RMSEA = .06, NFI = .90, CFI = .93). The model also met criteria for strict measurement invariance across gender (χ2(370) = 870.77, p < .05 RMSEA = .06, NFI = .87, CFI = .92). The SSI had similar correlates as reported in validation studies of heterosexuals, providing evidence of convergent validity. Namely, higher SSI was related to greater Life Satisfaction (r = .11-.47), Identity Achievement (r = .18-.59), Sexual Self-Efficacy (r = .25-.54), and Sexual Consciousness (r = .22-.48). Further, higher SSI was associated with greater self-acceptance of LGB identity (r = .19-.36), and lower Internalized Homonegativity (r = .18-.29). SSI was largely unrelated to sexual risk behavior: only Body Self-Esteem was associated with more sexual risk behavior (r = -.11). Conclusions: The SSI appears to be a valid and reliable measure of sexual self-concept for lesbian, gay, and bisexual emerging adults. A validated measure of sexual self-concept for LGB populations can facilitate efforts to advance theory, research, and sexual health promotion within an equity- and resilience -based framework for this marginalized population.

Authors

• Zenaida Rivera, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author

• Valerie Simon, Wayne State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Erin Smith, Wayne State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Bryan Victor, Indiana University
  Non-Presenting Author