Asexuality: Classification and characterization

N Prause, CA Graham�- Archives of sexual behavior, 2007 - Springer
Archives of sexual behavior, 2007Springer
The term “asexual” has been defined in many different ways and asexuality has received
very little research attention. In a small qualitative study (N= 4), individuals who self-
identified as asexual were interviewed to help formulate hypotheses for a larger study. The
second larger study was an online survey drawn from a convenience sample designed to
better characterize asexuality and to test predictors of asexual identity. A convenience
sample of 1,146 individuals (N= 41 self-identified asexual) completed online questionnaires�…
Abstract
The term “asexual” has been defined in many different ways and asexuality has received very little research attention. In a small qualitative study (N�=�4), individuals who self-identified as asexual were interviewed to help formulate hypotheses for a larger study. The second larger study was an online survey drawn from a convenience sample designed to better characterize asexuality and to test predictors of asexual identity. A convenience sample of 1,146 individuals (N�=�41 self-identified asexual) completed online questionnaires assessing sexual history, sexual inhibition and excitation, sexual desire, and an open-response questionnaire concerning asexual identity. Asexuals reported significantly less desire for sex with a partner, lower sexual arousability, and lower sexual excitation but did not differ consistently from non-asexuals in their sexual inhibition scores or their desire to masturbate. Content analyses supported the idea that low sexual desire is the primary feature predicting asexual identity.
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