PREDICTORS OF MOVEMENT TOWARD HOMOSEXUALITY - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OFBISEXUAL MEN

We examined predictors of movement toward more homosexual sexual feeli ngs among behaviorally bisexual men. Two hundred sixteen behaviorally bisexual men, recruited from diverse sources, were interviewed twice, with about one year between interviews. Predictor variables from domai ns of mental health, sexual behavior, demographics, and substance use were hypothesized to predict movement toward more homosexual sexual fe elings. The sample as a whole moved toward the homosexual end of self- rated sexual orientation from Time 1 to Time 2, although only about on e third of the individual respondents did so. The men who moved toward homosexuality reported lower levels of depression and anxiety and hig her self-esteem at Time 1 than men who did not move. Sexual behavior w ith women but not with men was predictive of movement; men who shifted toward homosexuality reported fewer current and lifetime female sexua l partners and a later age of first heterosexual activity than men who did not shift in this direction. In addition, men who moved toward ho mosexuality were more likely at Time 1 to fantasize about men during m asturbation and less likely to use drugs with their male partners.