Study: Homosexuality Linked With Childhood Trauma
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, July 26, 2010 ( LifeSiteNews.com)
-- A recent Otago University study has
found that homosexual or bisexual individuals are more
likely to have undergone a variety of of traumas in
childhood, including sexual assault, rape, violence,
and witnessing violence in the home.
"People who either identify themselves as
homosexual or bisexual, or have had a same-sex encounter
or relationship, tend to come from more disturbed backgrounds," said
Research Associate Professor Elisabeth Wells.
The study analyzed results from a New Zealand Mental
Health study that surveyed about 13,000 people between
2003 and 2004. 98% of the participants in the
study identified themselves as heterosexual; 0.8% identified
as homosexual; 0.6% identified as bisexual; and 0.3%
identified as "something else."
Of people who reported certain traumatic childhood
events, 15% were not heterosexual; of those without
such experiences, only 5% were not heterosexual, suggesting
that such experiences tripled the chance of later professing
homosexual or bisexual inclinations.
Some homosexualist leaders took issue with the study's
findings: Tony Simpson, chairman of the national homosexualist
group Rainbow Wellington, said that the research should
not be taken to mean that homosexuals are not born
that way. "I have no doubt that the religious
right will leap to the conclusion that this goes to
show conclusively that homosexuals are made rather
than born," he said.
Wells attempted to assuage fears over the study's conclusions.
"I suspect there might be some gay and lesbian
people who will be indignant, but it is not my intention
to anger them," she said. "You
could say that if someone was sexually abused as a
child, chooses to live as a homosexual and lives life
well, then that is not a bad thing. But if they
are living a homosexual life and regretting it, that
is another matter."
Although sexual or physical abuse in childhood was
associated with adult homosexuality, other traumatic
experiences, such as the sudden death of a loved one
or serious childhood illness or accident, were only
slightly associated with non-heterosexual identity
or behaviour.
Of females who self-identified as homosexual, more
than 40% had been married and had children, whereas
13% of male homosexuals had done so. Over 80%
of those who identified as bisexual were women.
The association between child abuse and later homosexual
identification is not young.
One 1992 study found
that 37% of homosexual and bisexual men attending sexually
transmitted disease clinics had been encouraged or
forced to have sexual contact before age 19 with an
older or more powerful partner. The median age
of first contact was 10 years old.
# # #
By James Tillman
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Web site: www.LifeSiteNews.com
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, July 26, 2010 ( LifeSiteNews.com) -- A recent Otago University study has found that homosexual or bisexual individuals are more likely to have undergone a variety of of traumas in childhood, including sexual assault, rape, violence, and witnessing violence in the home.
"People who either identify themselves as
homosexual or bisexual, or have had a same-sex encounter
or relationship, tend to come from more disturbed backgrounds," said
Research Associate Professor Elisabeth Wells.
The study analyzed results from a New Zealand Mental
Health study that surveyed about 13,000 people between
2003 and 2004. 98% of the participants in the
study identified themselves as heterosexual; 0.8% identified
as homosexual; 0.6% identified as bisexual; and 0.3%
identified as "something else."
Of people who reported certain traumatic childhood
events, 15% were not heterosexual; of those without
such experiences, only 5% were not heterosexual, suggesting
that such experiences tripled the chance of later professing
homosexual or bisexual inclinations.
Some homosexualist leaders took issue with the study's
findings: Tony Simpson, chairman of the national homosexualist
group Rainbow Wellington, said that the research should
not be taken to mean that homosexuals are not born
that way. "I have no doubt that the religious
right will leap to the conclusion that this goes to
show conclusively that homosexuals are made rather
than born," he said.
Wells attempted to assuage fears over the study's conclusions.
"I suspect there might be some gay and lesbian
people who will be indignant, but it is not my intention
to anger them," she said. "You
could say that if someone was sexually abused as a
child, chooses to live as a homosexual and lives life
well, then that is not a bad thing. But if they
are living a homosexual life and regretting it, that
is another matter."
Although sexual or physical abuse in childhood was
associated with adult homosexuality, other traumatic
experiences, such as the sudden death of a loved one
or serious childhood illness or accident, were only
slightly associated with non-heterosexual identity
or behaviour.
Of females who self-identified as homosexual, more than 40% had been married and had children, whereas 13% of male homosexuals had done so. Over 80% of those who identified as bisexual were women.
The association between child abuse and later homosexual identification is not young.
One 1992 study found that 37% of homosexual and bisexual men attending sexually transmitted disease clinics had been encouraged or forced to have sexual contact before age 19 with an older or more powerful partner. The median age of first contact was 10 years old.
# # #
By James Tillman
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Web site: www.LifeSiteNews.com