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Bisexuality among a cohort of university students: prevalence and psychological distress

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 79–84 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Sociocultural prejudices and pressures may impair the mental health of bisexual people. We aim to evaluate psychological status according to sexual orientation in a sample of Italian university students, with specific attention to bisexuality and its frequency. Among a recruited sample of 551 university students, we found the following percentages for sexual orientation: heterosexuals 96.9% (n = 534), homosexuals 1.1% (n = 6), bisexuals 2% (n = 11). The cross-sectional analysis for psychological symptoms, with the Symptoms Check List-90 Revised (SCL-90-R), revealed that bisexual subjects have statistically significant higher scores on some symptomatic scales compared to heterosexuals. In particular, obsession-compulsion, paranoid ideation, hostility were significantly higher in bisexuals. Therefore, if heterosexual or homosexual orientation are not specified by particular psychological symptoms, bisexuality is characterized by a strong link with some facets of psychological distress, which are likely caused by a peculiar double stigma. In conclusion, through a specific psychometric tool, we found an association between bisexuality and various forms of psychological suffering. This evidence should further encourage clinicians to accurately assess the psychological health in young bisexual people.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Drs. Capuano, Martini and Tuziak for their contribution to recruit sample.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair of Endocrinology and Sexual Medicine (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Giacomo Ciocca, Caterina Solano, Erika Limoncin, Daniele Mollaioli & Emmanuele A. Jannini

  2. Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Giorgio Di Lorenzo, Emanuela Bianciardi, Cinzia Niolu & Alberto Siracusano

  3. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Giorgio Di Lorenzo, Cinzia Niolu & Alberto Siracusano

  4. Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy

    Eleonora Carosa, Alberto Collazzoni & Alessandro Rossi

  5. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Emiliano Santarnecchi

  6. Berenson-Allen Center for Non-invasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Emiliano Santarnecchi

  7. Department of Mental Health, ASL 01 Avezzano-Sulmona-L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy

    Alessandro Rossi

Authors
  1. Giacomo Ciocca
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  2. Caterina Solano
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  3. Giorgio Di Lorenzo
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  6. Eleonora Carosa
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  9. Emanuela Bianciardi
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  10. Cinzia Niolu
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  12. Alessandro Rossi
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  13. Emmanuele A. Jannini
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Correspondence to Emmanuele A. Jannini.

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Conflict of interest

Professor Jannini is consultant or paid speaker for Bayer, GSK, Ibsa, Menarini, Otsuka, Pfizer, and Shionogi. Dr. Limoncin has been paid speaker for Menarini.

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Ciocca, G., Solano, C., Di Lorenzo, G. et al. Bisexuality among a cohort of university students: prevalence and psychological distress. Int J Impot Res 30, 79–84 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-017-0014-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-017-0014-2

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