What Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Change: Evidence From a United States Sample of 72 Exposed Men

Abstract

Background: Voluntary non-coercive therapeutic interventions for adults are collectively known as sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). Research on SOCE has reported global or average sexual orientation change, but not in more detail. This study addresses two questions: Does change consist primarily of reduced homosexual orientation or increased heterosexual orientation? Does change consist primarily of change in behavior or change in attraction? 

Method: A convenience sample of 72 men who had completed SOCE was examined for the decrease in homosexual attraction, increase in heterosexual attraction, and corresponding changes in sexual behavior among those experiencing a homosexual-to-heterosexual shift. All measures were self-reported.

Results: Participants reported extremely high religiosity. A third (32%, N=23) reported a shift from general homosexual attraction (score of 4-6) to general heterosexual attraction (score of 0-2) on the Kinsey scale, which ranges from "exclusively heterosexual" (0) to "exclusively homosexual" (6). Among these, effect sizes (Cohen's d) for sexual fantasy and desire for romantic intimacy were larger for homosexual reduction (fantasy: -2.3, desire: -1.5) than for heterosexual increase (fantasy: +1.8, desire: + 1.0). Effect sizes for sexual behaviors, measured by kissing and sex relations, dropped the largest possible amount for homosexual behavior (kissing: -1.0, sex: -1.5, both statistically significant at p<0.004) while there was little to no increase in heterosexual behavior (kissing: +0.36, sex +0.38, both statistically non-significant at p>0.13).

Conclusion: Change consisted primarily of reduced homosexual orientation and change in behavior was much stronger than change in attraction. SOCE supported conformity to strong religious norms against homosexual behavior, but not attractions, for this group of extremely religious men. Implications for understanding SOCE-related sexual orientation change are discussed.