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Symposia

LGBTQ+

Understanding and contextualizing LGBTQ+ Identity: Implications for Research and Clinical Practice

2 - (SYM 46) Longitudinal Patterns of Sexual Identity, Attraction, and Behavior in Latina/o/x Adolescents: Associations with Familismo and Ethnic Identity

Saturday, November 22, 2025
11:52 AM - 12:09 PM CST
Location: Celestin D&E, Level 3
Keywords: LGBTQ+, Community-Based, Mental Health Disparities
Recommended Readings: Diamond, L. M. (2016). Sexual fluidity in male and females. Current Sexual Health Reports, 8(4), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-016-0092-z,   Flynn, S. S., Touhey, S., Sullivan, T. R., & Mereish, E. H. (2024). Queer and transgender joy: A daily diary qualitative study of positive identity factors among sexual and gender minority adolescents. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000733,   Hinton, J. D. X., de la Piedad Garcia, X., Kaufmann, L. M., Koc, Y., & Anderson, J. R. (2022). A systematic and meta-analytic review of identity centrality among LGBTQ groups: An assessment of psychosocial correlates. Journal of Sex Research, 59(5), 568–586. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1967849,   Savin-Williams, R. C. (2001). A critique of research on sexual-minority youths. Journal of Adolescence, 24(1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2000.0369,  
Abstract Body
Health disparities among sexual minority populations are well documented (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine et al., 2021). However, the validity of these findings relies on accurately classified sexual minority individuals. Existing health disparities studies have operationalized sexual orientation in ways that are limited by inadequate integration of sexual orientation development. Moreover, little is known about the ways cultural factors may influence sexual orientation development. The current study utilizes data from a probability sample of Latina/o/x adolescents to construct theoretically meaningful groups of adolescent sexual identity, attraction, and behavior and examine associations between ethnic identity and familismo across groups.

547 Latina/o/x youth (Mage=13.31, SD=0.97, 55.4% female, 52.3% Mexican, 88.1% U.S. born) in suburban Atlanta were assessed at 10 timepoints every six months beginning in grade 6. Youth reported their sexual identity and attraction at each time point and sexual behavior beginning at T4. Guided by previous work on sexual orientation development (Savin-Williams 2011; Diamond 2008; van Anders 2015), theory-grounded groups were identified in the data.

Less than half of youth (46.3%) reported exclusive heterosexual identity and no same-sex attraction or behavior. Other patterns included persistent heterosexual identity with transient same-sex attraction (17.7%), heterosexual and unsure identity with (8.0%) and without (5.9%) same-sex attraction, and sexual minority identity with same-sex attraction (21.6%). Youth same-sex sexual behaviors varied by group (7.2% of those reporting heterosexual identity and some attraction; 25.4% of those reporting a sexual minority identity). Youth who reported same-sex identity and attraction had either a steady (beginning early and persisting), an emergent (appearing later), a desisting (appearing only early), or inconsistent patterns over time. We will describe associations between measures of familismo and ethnic identity to begin understanding whether and how cultural factors impact sexual orientation development in these groups.

Appreciating these complexities in future research, we can more precisely identify processes that facilitate health disparities in sexual minority populations. Results will also provide initial insight into the influence of cultural factors on sexual orientation development. Findings can inform interventions targeting youth with diverse experiences of their sexual orientation.