The relationship between childhood unwanted sexual experiences (USEs) and sexual orientation has yet to be investigated in Australian females aged below 18 years.
Women aged 16-25 years living in Victoria were randomly recruited via targeted advertising on Facebook from May 2010. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect information on participant demographics, USEs and indices of sexual orientation. Chi2 tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine associations between a history of childhood and adulthood USE and indices of sexual orientation.
Data were collected from 639 females (mean ±SD age 22±3). Approximately 14% had experienced childhood USE and 15% reported adult USE. Females who reported to have a same-sex sexual orientation (N=23, 4%) were more likely to have experienced childhood USE than those who reported to be heterosexual (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.7−12.1, p < 0.001). Childhood USE was associated with a greater likelihood of having at least one female partner compared to those who had not reported childhood USE (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3−4.6, p = 0.004). A similar association was detected between those who reported adulthood USE and having a female partner.
Using a novel web-based validated questionnaire, we found that the prevalence of childhood and adulthood USE is extremely high. A positive association between childhood USE and same-sex sexual orientation was found, but we were unable to determine whether the USE preceded sexual orientation. Longitudinal studies should be conducted in Australian females to investigate whether these associations are bi-directional.