IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/demogr/v54y2017i3d10.1007_s13524-017-0578-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Non-Heterosexuality, Relationships, and Young Women’s Contraceptive Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth J. Ela

    (University of Michigan)

  • Jamie Budnick

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

Non-heterosexual young women have a higher rate of unintended pregnancy than their heterosexual peers, but their fertility behaviors are understudied. We use longitudinal data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life study to investigate mechanisms contributing to non-heterosexual women’s higher pregnancy risk. These data include weekly reports of relationships, sex, and contraceptive use over 30 months. We compare the relationships and fertility behaviors of three groups: exclusively heterosexual (consistent heterosexual behavior, identity, and attraction); mostly heterosexual (heterosexual identity with same-sex behavior and/or same-sex attraction); and LGBTQ (any non-heterosexual identity). We find that mostly heterosexual and LGBTQ women behave differently from exclusively heterosexual women in ways likely to elevate their risk of unintended pregnancy: more distinct partners during the study period, more sexual intercourse with men, less frequent contraceptive use, less use of a dual method (condom plus hormonal method), and more gaps in contraceptive coverage. Mostly heterosexual women resemble LGBTQ women in their contraceptive behavior but have significantly more intercourse with men, which may increase their pregnancy risk relative to both LGBTQ and exclusively heterosexual women. We conclude by considering implications for LGBTQ health and the measurement of sexual minority populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth J. Ela & Jamie Budnick, 2017. "Non-Heterosexuality, Relationships, and Young Women’s Contraceptive Behavior," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(3), pages 887-909, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:54:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s13524-017-0578-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-017-0578-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13524-017-0578-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13524-017-0578-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roberts, A.L. & Rosario, M. & Corliss, H.L. & Koenen, K.C. & Austin, S.B., 2012. "Elevated risk of posttraumatic stress in sexual minority Youths: Mediation by childhood abuse and gender nonconformity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(8), pages 1587-1593.
    2. Goodenow, C. & Szalacha, L.A. & Robin, L.E. & Westheimer, K., 2008. "Dimensions of sexual orientation and HIV-related risk among adolescent females: Evidence from a statewide survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(6), pages 1051-1058.
    3. Kapadia, F. & Landers, S., 2013. "The health of sexual minorities: a new frontier," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(10), pages 1735-1735.
    4. Dan Black & Gary Gates & Seth Sanders & Lowell Taylor, 2000. "Demographics of the gay and lesbian population in the United States: Evidence from available systematic data sources," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 37(2), pages 139-154, May.
    5. Conron, K.J. & Mimiaga, M.J. & Landers, S.J., 2010. "A population-based study of sexual orientation identity and gender differences in adult health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(10), pages 1953-1960.
    6. Ron J. Lesthaeghe & Lisa Neidert, 2006. "The Second Demographic Transition in the United States: Exception or Textbook Example?," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 32(4), pages 669-698, December.
    7. Jennifer Manlove & Suzanne Ryan & Kerry Franzetta, 2007. "Contraceptive use patterns across teens’ sexual relationships: The role of relationships, partners, and sexual histories," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(3), pages 603-621, August.
    8. Jennifer Barber & Patricia East, 2011. "Children’s Experiences After the Unintended Birth of a Sibling," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(1), pages 101-125, February.
    9. Papke, Leslie E & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M, 1996. "Econometric Methods for Fractional Response Variables with an Application to 401(K) Plan Participation Rates," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(6), pages 619-632, Nov.-Dec..
    10. Heather H. Gatny & Jennifer S. Barber & Yasamin Kusunoki, 2011. "DATA & TRENDS (non refereed articles): Design and implementation of an online weekly journal to study unintended pregnancies," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 9(1), pages 327-334.
    11. Fredriksen-Goldsen, K.I. & Kim, H.-J. & Barkan, S.E. & Balsam, K.F. & Mincer, S.L., 2010. "Disparities in health-related quality of life: A comparison of lesbians and bisexual women," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(11), pages 2255-2261.
    12. Corliss, H.L. & Goodenow, C.S. & Nichols, L. & Bryn Austin, S., 2011. "High burden of homelessness among sexual-minority adolescents: Findings from a representative massachusetts high school sample," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(9), pages 1683-1689.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Christopher S. Carpenter & Gilbert Gonzales Jr. & Tara McKay & Dario Sansone, 2020. "Effects of the Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Mandate on Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals in Same-Sex Couples," NBER Working Papers 26978, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yasamin Kusunoki & Jennifer S. Barber, 2020. "The Dynamics of Intimate Relationships and Contraceptive Use During Early Emerging Adulthood," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(6), pages 2003-2034, December.
    2. Marco Fonzo & Silvia Cocchio & Matteo Centomo & Tatjana Baldovin & Alessandra Buja & Silvia Majori & Vincenzo Baldo & Chiara Bertoncello, 2021. "Sexual and Gender Minorities and Risk Behaviours among University Students in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, November.
    3. Charles Strohm & Judith Seltzer & Susan Cochran & Vickie Mays, 2009. ""Living Apart Together" relationships in the United States," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(7), pages 177-214.
    4. Bridget Gorman & Justin Denney & Hilary Dowdy & Rose Medeiros, 2015. "A New Piece of the Puzzle: Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Physical Health Status," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(4), pages 1357-1382, August.
    5. Kelly Horn & James A. Swartz, 2019. "A Comparative Analysis of Lifetime Medical Conditions and Infectious Diseases by Sexual Identity, Attraction, and Concordance among Women: Results from a National U.S. Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-14, April.
    6. Bridget Brew & Abigail Weitzman & Kelly Musick & Yasamin Kusunoki, 2020. "Young women's joint relationship, sex, and contraceptive trajectories: Evidence from the United States," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 42(34), pages 933-984.
    7. Yasamin Kusunoki & Jennifer S. Barber & Elizabeth J. Ela & Amelia Bucek, 2016. "Black-White Differences in Sex and Contraceptive Use Among Young Women," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(5), pages 1399-1428, October.
    8. Abigail Weitzman & Jennifer Barber & Yasamin Kusunoki, 2019. "Sexual Concurrency and Contraceptive Use Among Young Adult Women," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(2), pages 549-572, April.
    9. Alexa L. Solazzo & Bridget K. Gorman & Justin T. Denney, 2017. "Cancer Screening Utilization Among U.S. Women: How Mammogram and Pap Test Use Varies Among Heterosexual, Lesbian, and Bisexual Women," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 36(3), pages 357-377, June.
    10. Ning Hsieh & Hui Liu, 2019. "Bisexuality, Union Status, and Gender Composition of the Couple: Reexamining Marital Advantage in Health," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(5), pages 1791-1825, October.
    11. Jinsuk Yang & Qing Hao & Mahmut Yaşar, 2023. "Institutional investors and cross‐border mergers and acquisitions: The 2000–2018 period," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(3), pages 553-583, September.
    12. Alexander Klein & Karl Gunnar Persson & Paul Sharp, 2023. "Populism and the first wave of globalization: Evidence from the 1892 US presidential election," Rivista di storia economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 2, pages 163-202.
    13. Alperovych, Yan & Hübner, Georges & Lobet, Fabrice, 2015. "How does governmental versus private venture capital backing affect a firm's efficiency? Evidence from Belgium," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 508-525.
    14. Giuliani, Elisa & Martinelli, Arianna & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2016. "Is Co-Invention Expediting Technological Catch Up? A Study of Collaboration between Emerging Country Firms and EU Inventors," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 192-205.
    15. Matthias Schmid & Florian Wickler & Kelly O Maloney & Richard Mitchell & Nora Fenske & Andreas Mayr, 2013. "Boosted Beta Regression," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-15, April.
    16. Christophe Hurlin & Jérémy Leymarie & Antoine Patin, 2018. "Loss functions for LGD model comparison," Working Papers halshs-01516147, HAL.
    17. Blackburn, McKinley L. & Vermilyea, Todd, 2012. "The prevalence and impact of misstated incomes on mortgage loan applications," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 151-168.
    18. Sunnee Billingsley, 2010. "The Post-Communist Fertility Puzzle," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 29(2), pages 193-231, April.
    19. de Rassenfosse, Gaétan, 2013. "Do firms face a trade-off between the quantity and the quality of their inventions?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 1072-1079.
    20. Mazen Hassan & Sarah Mansour & Stefan Voigt & May Gadallah, 2022. "When Syria was in Egypt’s land: Egyptians cooperate with Syrians, but less with each other," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 191(3), pages 337-362, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:54:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s13524-017-0578-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.