The primary goal of the present study is to examine the genetic and environmental determinants of aspects of human sexuality, including sexual behaviors which increase the risk of HIV infection (""""""""risky"""""""" sexual behaviors). The proposed vehicle for studying such determinants is a twin study, in which the similarity of monozygotic (MZ) twins who have been reared together is compared to that of dizygotic (DZ) twins also reared together. Twins will be recruited from the cohort of the Australian Twin Registry aged 18-25. This cohort contains approximately 4,700 twin pairs, and will yield by far the largest twin sample ever used in the study of sexuality. cooperating twins will be sent a questionnaire consisting of previously- validated items and scales measuring the aforementioned aspects of sexual behavior. Completed questionnaire will provide data for analyses. Current biometrical techniques will be applied to the data. Such techniques should provide, at a minimum, estimates of the importance of genes, shared environment, and non-shared environment for relevant traits, attitudes, and behaviors. Additionally, the determinants of the covariation between traits or behaviors of interest -- particularly, the covariation between sexual orientation and childhood gender nonconformity and the covariation between sexual orientation and childhood gender nonconformity and the covariation among high-risk sexual behaviors -- will be explored. This will help to determine whether such covariation is due to the influence of genes or environmental factors influencing both traits. The primary benefit of this study will be its contribution to theories concerning human sexuality. As the first large scale study to explore genetic and environmental determinants of sexual behavior, this study will have a strong impact on research in the area of human sexuality. Additionally, since the study should provide information regarding the determinants of """"""""risky"""""""" sexual behavior, it may also have implications for the modification of such behaviors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03MH047227-01
Application #
3429594
Study Section
MH Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Review Committee (MHAZ)
Project Start
1990-09-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1990-09-01
Budget End
1991-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Evanston
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60201
Gangestad, S W; Bailey, J M; Martin, N G (2000) Taxometric analyses of sexual orientation and gender identity. J Pers Soc Psychol 78:1109-21
Bailey, J M; Kirk, K M; Zhu, G et al. (2000) Do individual differences in sociosexuality represent genetic or environmentally contingent strategies? Evidence from the Australian twin registry. J Pers Soc Psychol 78:537-45
Bailey, J M; Gaulin, S; Agyei, Y et al. (1994) Effects of gender and sexual orientation on evolutionarily relevant aspects of human mating psychology. J Pers Soc Psychol 66:1081-93
Bailey, J M; Benishay, D S (1993) Familial aggregation of female sexual orientation. Am J Psychiatry 150:272-7
Bailey, J M; Pillard, R C; Neale, M C et al. (1993) Heritable factors influence sexual orientation in women. Arch Gen Psychiatry 50:217-23
Bailey, J M; Bell, A P (1993) Familiality of female and male homosexuality. Behav Genet 23:313-22
Bailey, J M; Pillard, R C (1991) A genetic study of male sexual orientation. Arch Gen Psychiatry 48:1089-96
Buhrich, N; Bailey, J M; Martin, N G (1991) Sexual orientation, sexual identity, and sex-dimorphic behaviors in male twins. Behav Genet 21:75-96