The current state of sexual fluidity research

Sabra L Katz-Wise; Kieran P Todd

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101497

The current state of sexual fluidity research

Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Dec:48:101497. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101497. Epub 2022 Oct 25.

Authors

Sabra L Katz-Wise¹, Kieran P Todd²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: sabra.katz-wise@childrens.harvard.edu.
² Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Sexual fluidity research (i.e., change over time in one or more sexual orientation dimensions) has grown exponentially, with advancements in conceptual models, measurement, and understanding of sexual orientation as a construct and developmental process that accommodates potential for change. Sexual fluidity research has also moved beyond samples of white cisgender women to consider the experiences of individuals with other sociodemographic characteristics and has examined change across multiple dimensions of sexual orientation, mechanisms of change, and associations with health outcomes. This review provides a brief narrative of historical conceptualizations of sexual orientation and fluidity and the current state of research on sexual fluidity. Finally, we identify opportunities for future research, policy, and clinical practice.

Keywords: Sexual fluidity; Sexual orientation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Concept Formation*
Female
Humans
Male
Sexual Behavior*

Grants and funding

R21 MD015838/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States