A study published in The Journal of Sex Research uncovered a significant rise in the number of Americans identifying as bisexual or reporting bisexual behaviors, especially in recent years.
The findings shed light on the evolving landscape of sexual orientation in the United States.
While acceptance of same-sex sexuality and marriage has notably increased, bisexuality has remained somewhat in the shadows, with less clarity around its trends and behaviors. This gap prompted researchers to delve into nationally representative samples to map out the landscape of bisexuality.
For their study, the researchers utilized the wealth of data provided by the General Social Survey (GSS). The GSS, a cornerstone of social science research, has been gathering data on the attitudes, behaviors, and characteristics of the American public since 1972.
The research team analyzed responses from a substantial sample of 32,238 respondents who completed the GSS between 1989 and 2018, along with an additional 2,313 respondents from the 2021 wave. This approach allowed them to maintain a focus on a nationally representative sample, ensuring that their findings could speak to broader societal trends.
The study employed four measures based on sexual behavior and one measure based on identity. Starting in 1989, the GSS included questions about the number of male and female partners respondents had since turning 18, which the researchers used to categorize respondents into groups based on the sex of their sexual partners.
Additionally, from 2008 onwards, the GSS began asking respondents to identify their sexual orientation, offering options like “gay, lesbian, or homosexual,” “bisexual,” and “heterosexual or straight.” These indicators allowed the researchers to track changes in how people report their sexual orientation and behaviors over time.
The researchers found that the proportion of respondents reporting partners of both sexes since age 18 experienced a notable increase over time. Specifically, the study documents a threefold rise in such reports, moving from 3.1% in the 1989–1994 waves to 9.3% in the 2012–2018 waves. This trend was further corroborated by the increase in respondents identifying as bisexual, which more than doubled from the 2008–2010 waves to the 2012–2018 waves.
