Sexual Behavior in Sexual Minority and Non-Minority Youth from Eight European Countries

Sexual minority youth, compared to their heterosexual peers, have a disproportionate burden of sexual risks, but it remains unclear whether such inequalities exist across cultures and countries. We used data from eight European countries participating in the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study to analyze sexual behavior in representative samples of adolescents aged 14.5-16.5 years (N = 10,583). Overall, 19.1% of the participants reported that they had had sexual intercourse. Compared to their non-minority peers (those exclusively attracted to opposite-gender partners), sexual minority youth - attracted to same- or both-gender partners - were significantly more likely to report having had sexual intercourse and sex before age 14. Those attracted to both-gender partners had similar odds of having had sexual intercourse, but higher odds of not using condoms, or neither condoms nor contraceptive pill use at last intercourse. Those not attracted to anyone had similar odds of having had sexual intercourse but were more likely to report early sex and not using protection at last intercourse. Adjusting for gender, country and family affluence did not substantially change the pattern of results. In interpreting the findings, the onset of puberty, sexual abuse, stigma management and experimentation with sexual identity should be considered. We discuss the practical, clinical and research implications of the findings.