Abstract
Multivariate structural equation modeling techniques have been applied to examine the causes of individual differences in responses to several items concerning sexual orientation. To minimize potential ascertainment and response biases, the study sample involved a large (N = 4901) community-based cohort of Australian twins aged 18–52 who answered an anonymous questionnaire on sexual behavior and attitudes. The statistical power of the analysis was increased by the availability of multiple measures of sexual orientation (behaviors, attitudes and feelings), providing stronger evidence for the existence of additive genetic influences on this phenotype than in a previous analysis (Bailey et al., 2000). Estimates of the heritability of homosexuality in this sample ranged between 50 and 60% in females but were significantly lower (heritability of approximately 30%) in males.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Akaike, H. (1987). Factor analysis and aic. Psychometrika 52:317–322.
Bailey, J. M., and Bell, A. P. (1993). Familiality of female and male homosexuality. Behav. Genet. 23:313–322.
Bailey, J. M., and Benishay, D. S. (1993). Familial aggregation of female sexual orientation. Am. J. Psychiatry 150:272–277.
Bailey, J. M., and Pillard, R. C. (1991). A genetic study of male sexual orientation. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 48:1089–1096.
Bailey, J. M., Pillard, R. C., Neale, M. C., and Agyei, M. A. (1993). Hertiable factors influence sexual orientation in women. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 50:217–223.
Bailey, J. M., Dunne, M. P., and Martin, N. G. (2000). The distribution, correlates and determinants of sexual orientation in an Australian twin sample. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 78:524–536.
Baker, L. A., Treloar, S. A., Reynolds, C., Heath, A. C., and Martin, N. G. (1996). Genetics of educational attainment in Australian twins: Sex differences and secular changes. Behav. Genet. 26:89–102.
Dunne, M. P., Martin, N. G., Bailey, J. M., Heath, A. C., Bucholz, K. K., Madden, P. A. F., Statham, D. J. (1997). Participation bias in a sexuality survey: Psychological and behavioural characteristics of responders and non-responders. Int. J. Epidemiol. 26:844–854.
Eaves, L. J., Eysenck, H. J., and Martin, N. G. (1989). Genes, Culture and Personality: An Empirical Approach, Academic Press, New York.
Gangestad, S. W., Bailey, J. M., and Martin, N. G. (2000). Taxometric analyses of sexual orientation and gender identity. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 78:1109–1121.
Jardine, R., and Martin, N. G. (1984). Causes of variation in drinking habits in a large twin sample. Acta Genet. Med. Gemellol (Roma) 33:435–450.
Jardine, R., Martin, N. G., and Henderson, A. S. (1984). Genetic covariation between neuroticism and the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Genet. Epidemiol. 1:89–107.
Jöreskog, K. G., and Sörbom, D. (1998). LISREL 8.20 and PRELIS 2.20 for Windows, Scientific Software, Chicago.
Kasriel, J., and Eaves, L. J. (1976). A comparison of the accuracy of written questionnaires with blood-typing for diagnosing zygosity in twins. J. Biosoc. Sci. 8:263–266.
Kendler, K. S., and Eaves, L. J. (1989). The estimation of probandwise concondance in twins: The effect of unequal ascertainment. Acta Genet. Med. Gemellol. (Roma) 38:253–270.
Kendler, K., Heath, A., Martin, N., and Eaves, L. J. (1987). Symptoms of anxiety and symptoms of depression. Same genes, different environments? Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 44:451–457.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., and Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia and London.
Martin, N. G., and Martin P. G. (1975). The inheritance of scholastic abilities in a sample of twins. I. Ascertainment of the sample and diagnosis of zygosity. Ann. Hum. Genet. 39:213–218.
Neale, M. C. (1999). Mx: Statistical Modelling, 4th ed., Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
Neale, M. C., and Cardon, L. R. (1992). Methodology for Genetic Studies of Twins and Families, Kluwer Academic, Dortrecht.
Neale, M. C., and Eaves, L. J. (1993). Estimating and controlling for the effects of volunteer bias with pairs of relatives. Behav. Genet. 23:271–277.
Neale, M. C., Eaves, L. J., and Kendler, K. S. (1994). The power of the classical twin study to resolve variation in threshold traits. Behav. Genet. 24:239–258.
Ooki, S., Yamada, K., Asaka, A., and Hayakawa, K. (1990). Zygosity diagnosis of twins by questionnaire. Acta Genet. Med. Gemellol. (Roma) 39:109–115.
Pattatucci, A. M. L., and Hamer, D. H. (1995). Development and familiality of sexual orientation in females. Behav. Genet. 25:407–420.
Pillard, R. C. (1990). The Kinsey Scale: Is it familial? In McWhirter, D. P., Sanders, S. A., and Reinisch, J. M. (eds.), Homosexuality/Heterosexuality: Concepts of Sexual Orientation, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 88–100.
Pillard, R. C., and Bailey, J. M. (1998). Human sexual orientation has a heritable component. Hum. Biol. 70:347–365.
Pillard, R. C., and Weinrich, J. D. (1986). Evidence of familial nature of male homosexuality. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 43:808–812.
SAS Institute (1996). SAS Version 6.11 [Computer program], SAS Institute, Cary, NC.
Wellings, K., Wadsworth, J., and Johnson A. (1994). Sexual diversity and homosexual behavior. In Wellings, K., Field, J., Johnson, A., and Wadsworth, J. (eds.), Sexual Behaviour in Britain, Penguin, London, pp. 178–229.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kirk, K.M., Bailey, J.M., Dunne, M.P. et al. Measurement Models for Sexual Orientation in a Community Twin Sample. Behav Genet 30, 345–356 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026557719181
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026557719181