The current state of sexual fluidity research
Open accessAbstract
Sexual fluidity research (i.e., change over time in one or more sexual orientation dimensions) has grown exponentially, with advancements in conceptual models, measurement, and understanding of sexual orientation as a construct and developmental process that accommodates potential for change. Sexual fluidity research has also moved beyond samples of white cisgender women to consider the experiences of individuals with other sociodemographic characteristics and has examined change across multiple dimensions of sexual orientation, mechanisms of change, and associations with health outcomes. This review provides a brief narrative of historical conceptualizations of sexual orientation and fluidity and the current state of research on sexual fluidity. Finally, we identify opportunities for future research, policy, and clinical practice.
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People's sexual attractions, behaviors, and identities can shift over time.
“a growing body of literature reveals that sexual behavior, attractions, and identity do change over time (Diamond, 2016;Katz-Wise & Todd, 2022).”
From Fixed or Fluid? Sexual Identity Fluidity in a Large National Panel Study of New Zealand Adults (2024) · cites this paper as Katz-Wise & Todd, 2022
Sexual identity is fluid for some people, corroborating previous research that reveals fluidity among a minority of people.
“However, these results also show that sexual identity is fluid for some, corroborating previous research that reveals fluidity among a minority of people (see Table S1; see also Katz-Wise & Todd, 2022).”
From Fixed or Fluid? Sexual Identity Fluidity in a Large National Panel Study of New Zealand Adults (2024) · cites this paper as Katz-Wise & Todd, 2022
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Cites
Female bisexuality from adolescence to adulthood: Results from a 10-year longitudinal study
Diamond, L. M. (2008) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.44.1.5 · Cited by 564 · see citing works
Stability and Change in Sexual Orientation Identity Over a 10-Year Period in Adulthood
Mock, S. E., & Eibach, R. P. (2012) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-011-9761-1 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Katz-Wise, S. L., Reisner, S. L., Hughto, J. W., & St. Amand, C. (2016) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2014.1003028 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Self-citationKaestle, C. E. (2019) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1577351 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Campbell, A., Perales, F., & Baxter, J. (2021) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1814092 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Religion and Sexual Identity Fluidity in a National Three-Wave Panel of U.S. Adults
Scheitle, C. P., & Wolf, J. K. (2018) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-017-0979-4 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 27
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Lu, J. A., Soltani, S., Austin, S. B., Rehkopf, D. H., Lunn, M. R., & Langston, M. E. (2025) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.56264 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Fixed or Fluid? Sexual Identity Fluidity in a Large National Panel Study of New Zealand Adults
Lilly, K. J., Satherley, N., Sibley, C. G., Barlow, F. K., & Greaves, L. M. (2024) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2023.2289517 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
- Authors
- Katz-Wise, S. L., & Todd, K. P.
- Affiliations
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-12
- Volume
- 48
- Pages
- 101497
- ISSN
- 2352-250X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10289116
- OpenAlex
- W4307396176
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 1.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 350 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychology (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Health Resources and Services Administration (6T71-MC00009)
- Maternal and Child Health Bureau
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21MD015838)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Keywords
- sexual fluidity, sexual orientation change, sexual orientation measurement, mechanisms of change, health outcomes, sociodemographic diversity, clinical practice
- MeSH terms
- Concept Formation, Female, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior
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