• Brian Mustanski, Michelle Birkett, George J Greene, Margaret Rosario, Wendy Bostwick, and Bethany G Everett.
• Brian Mustanski, Michelle Birkett, and George J. Greene are with the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. Margaret Rosario is with the Department of Psychology at City University of New York-City College and Graduate Center, New York, NY. Wendy Bostwick is with Public Health and Health Education Programs in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL. Bethany G. Everett is with the Department of Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago.
• Am J Public Health. 2014 Feb 1; 104 (2): 237-44.

ObjectivesWe examined the prevalence and associations between behavioral and identity dimensions of sexual orientation among adolescents in the United States, with consideration of differences associated with race/ethnicity, sex, and age.MethodsWe used pooled data from 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys to estimate prevalence of sexual orientation variables within demographic sub-groups. We used multilevel logistic regression models to test differences in the association between sexual orientation identity and sexual behavior across groups.ResultsThere was substantial incongruence between behavioral and identity dimensions of sexual orientation, which varied across sex and race/ethnicity. Whereas girls were more likely to identify as bisexual, boys showed a stronger association between same-sex behavior and a bisexual identity. The pattern of association of age with sexual orientation differed between boys and girls.ConclusionsOur results highlight demographic differences between 2 sexual orientation dimensions, and their congruence, among 13- to 18-year-old adolescents. Future research is needed to better understand the implications of such differences, particularly in the realm of health and health disparities.

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