Mental health and interpersonal functioning in self-identified asexual men and women

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12978645
AutoresMorag A Yule (0000-0003-2233-1989, University of British Columbia, autor correspondente), Lori A Brotto (0000-0001-7552-8588, University of British Columbia), Boris B Gorzalka (University of British Columbia)
Ano2013
Volume4
Fascículo2
Páginas136-151
Data de publicação2013-03-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPsychology and Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1941-9902 • E-ISSN: 1941-9899
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19419899.2013.774162
OpenAlexW2274800016
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas44
Referências citadas53

Human asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction to anyone or anything, and preliminary evidence suggests that it may best be defined as a sexual orientation. As asexual individuals may face the same social stigma experienced by gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, it follows that asexual individuals may experience higher rates of psychiatric disturbance that have been observed among these non-heterosexual individuals. This study explored mental health correlates and interpersonal functioning and compared asexual, non-heterosexual and heterosexual individuals on these aspects of mental health. Analyses were limited to Caucasian participants only. There were significant differences among groups on several measures, including depression, anxiety, psychoticism, suicidality and interpersonal problems, and this study provided evidence that asexuality may be associated with higher prevalence of mental health and interpersonal problems. Clinical implications are indicated, in that asexual individuals should be adequately assessed for mental health difficulties and provided with appropriate interventions that are sensitive to their asexual identity. Keywords: asexualitymental healthsuicidalityinterpersonal functioning

Asexuality · Big Five personality traits · Human sexuality · Lesbian · Mental health · Personality · Psychiatry · Psychoticism · Sexual orientation · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology