A Latent Profile Analysis of Social Support, Online Contacts, and Preference for Online Communication Among Same- and Both-Sex Attracted and Other-Sex Attracted Adolescents

• Published in: The Journal of sex research 2024-02, p.1-10
• Main Authors: Kiekens, Wouter J, Kaufman, Tessa M L, Baams, Laura, de Lange, Jennifer, de Looze, Margreet E, Stevens, Gonneke W J M, Bos, H M W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-4499; 1559-8519
• DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2024.2319245

This study aimed to assess differences between other-sex attracted and same- and both-sex attracted adolescents in profiles of peer and family social support, online contacts, and preferences for online communication. Data stem from the 2017 Dutch "Health and Behavior in School-Aged Children" (HBSC) survey (  = 6,823; 4.0% same- and both-sex attracted; age 14.73,  = 1.59, range = 12-18). We conducted latent profile analyses to estimate profiles in peer and family social support, online contacts, and preferences for online communication. Then we assessed the association between sexual attraction and profile membership. A five-profile solution fitted the data best. Profiles were characterized as (35.6%); (42.9%); (9.9%); (6.9%); and (5.0%). Same- and both-sex attracted adolescents had higher odds than other-sex attracted adolescents of being in the latter three profiles than in the first profile. Thus, same- and both-sex attracted adolescents were more likely to report average to low rates of peer and family social support, high to low frequency of online contact, and an average to strong preference for online communication than other-sex attracted adolescents. The average to low levels of support especially influenced these sexual orientation-based differences in profile membership.