TY - JOUR
T1 - Bidentity
T2 - Sexual Behavior/Identity Congruence and Women's Sexual, Physical and Mental Well-Being
AU - Schick, Vanessa
AU - Rosenberger, Joshua G.
AU - Herbenick, Debby
AU - Calabrese, Sarah K.
AU - Reece, Michael
N1 - Funding Information:
Vanessa Schick was partially funded by a Developmental Award granted by the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. This study was conducted in partnership with GaydarGirls. The authors would also like to thank Searah Deysach for her in-kind support of this research, Chelsea Heaven for her assistance with database construction and J. Dennis Fortenberry for general advice and guidance.
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - According to cognitive dissonance theory, the co-occurrence of inconsistent cognitions may result in psychological distress. This distress may lead to undesirable health outcomes. This study explored the role of sexual behavior/identity congruence on women's mental, physical and sexual well-being. A total of 2,578 women who reported sexual attraction, desire, affection, intentions and/or behavior involving other women completed a web-based survey about their sexual identity/orientation, sexual behavior and well-being across domains. Participants whose recent sexual partnering matched their sexual identity reported fewer mentally/physically unhealthy days and also better sexual experiences. The well-being of queer-identified women did not significantly vary as a function of the gender of their sexual partners. The importance of behavior/identity congruence is discussed.
AB - According to cognitive dissonance theory, the co-occurrence of inconsistent cognitions may result in psychological distress. This distress may lead to undesirable health outcomes. This study explored the role of sexual behavior/identity congruence on women's mental, physical and sexual well-being. A total of 2,578 women who reported sexual attraction, desire, affection, intentions and/or behavior involving other women completed a web-based survey about their sexual identity/orientation, sexual behavior and well-being across domains. Participants whose recent sexual partnering matched their sexual identity reported fewer mentally/physically unhealthy days and also better sexual experiences. The well-being of queer-identified women did not significantly vary as a function of the gender of their sexual partners. The importance of behavior/identity congruence is discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861636473&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84861636473&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15299716.2012.674855
DO - 10.1080/15299716.2012.674855
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84861636473
SN - 1529-9716
VL - 12
SP - 178
EP - 197
JO - Journal of Bisexuality
JF - Journal of Bisexuality
IS - 2
ER -