Gender identities among adolescents and its influencing factors in Hunan Province

Objective To investigate gender identities among adolescents and the influencing tactors,and to provide basis for education and health service.Methods Participants were selected from middle and high schools in Hunan province.Gender identity,awareness and attitudes towards danmei literature character and homosexuality were assessed.Multivariate logistic regression model was established to explore the associated factors with adolescents' gender identities.Results A total of 1 260 valid questionnaires were collected.There were 2.7% of the adolescents self-reported as homosexuals,9.0% self-reported as bisexuals,and 13.7% not sure about gender identity.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that adolescents who were longing for the same-sex love as danmei(OR =127.410,95%CI=15.407-1053.654),knowing someone who is homosexual (OR =8.071,95%CI=1.460-44.630) were more likely self-reported as homosexuals.Students aged 12-< 15 years old (OR=2.051,95%CI=1.006-4.184),aware of danmei (OR=2.895,95%CI=1.692-4.954),longing for the same-sex love (OR =11.551,95%CI=5.773-23.112) or don't care (OR =3.264,95%CI=1.763-6.041),knowing someone who is homosexual (OR =3.934,95%CI =1.932-8.010) were more likely self-identified as bisexuals.Boys(OR=0.528,95%CI=0.307-0.909) were less likely to identify themselves as bisexuals.Boys aged 12-<15 years old (OR=3.448,95%CI=2.059-5.774) and 15-<17 years old (OR=1.993,95%CI=1.232-3.227),knowing someone who is homosexual (OR=1.498,95%CI=1.011-2.221),longing for the same-sex love (OR=4.250,95%CI=2.365-7.638),unsure of whether there are homosexuals among people they know (OR=1.719,95%CI=1.100-2.686) were more likely unsure of their own sexual identities.Conclusion There are certain proportions of adolescents perceive themselves as homosexuals or bisexuals.Gender,age,same-sex love literature,homosexual peers has significant impacts on adolescents' gender identity.