Jes L Matsick

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Dr. Matsick's research program is at the intersection of gender, sexuality, and prejudice. To learn more about Dr. Matsick's research and projects, please visit the Underrepresented Perspectives (UP) Laboratory website: https://jmatsick.wixsite.com/uplab
Phone: (814) 863-0126
Address: Psychology and Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
416 Moore Building
University Park, PA 16801

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Papers by Jes L Matsick

Femininity Concerns and Feelings About Menstruation Cessation Among Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Women: Implications for Menopause

Journal of women's health, 2021

Background: Women differ in how they psychologically respond to the end of menstruation and onset... more Background: Women differ in how they psychologically respond to the end of menstruation and onset of menopause; however, little empirical evidence exists for understanding how sexual orientation and gendered dynamics contribute to menstrual experiences in middle-to-late adulthood. We investigated if women's attitudes toward the cessation of menstruation vary by their sexual orientation. Methods: Using data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS, N = 3471), we examined the relationship between women's sexual orientation and attitudes toward menstruation cessation. We also assessed their femininity concerns, such as their worries about attractiveness and fertility in the context of aging. Results: Sexual minority (SM) women, compared with their heterosexual counterparts, expressed less regret of their menstrual periods ending. SM women also expressed lower concerns about femininity compared with heterosexual women, and concerns about femininity mediated the relatio...

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Does Monogamy Harm Women? Deconstructing Monogamy with a Feminist Lens

In this paper, we utilize a critical feminist lens to analyze the advantages and disadvantages fo... more In this paper, we utilize a critical feminist lens to analyze the advantages and disadvantages found within two different romantic relationship configurations: monogamy and polyamory. While visibility of polyamorous relationships has increased in recent years, there is still a lack of information and a plethora of misinformation concerning non-monogamous romantic relationship dynamics (Conley, Moors, Matsick, & Ziegler, 2012; Conley, Ziegler, Moors, Matsick, & Valentine, 2012). One such notion is that polyamory is differentially damaging to women vis-a-vis men. From a phenomenological perspective, sociocultural values dictate that women, unlike men, are prescribed to be dependent upon monogamy in order to define their selfhood; and indeed, research has provided evidence in support of this idea, as women are more apt to be offended by the idea of concurrent multiple relationships and are less likely to report a willingness to engage in these types of relationships than men are (Moor...

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Popular wisdom and scientific evidence suggest women desire and engage in casual sex less frequen... more Popular wisdom and scientific evidence suggest women desire and engage in casual sex less frequently than men; however, theories of gender differences in sexuality are often formulated in light of heterosexual relations. Less is understood about sexual behavior among lesbian and gay people, or individuals in which there is arguably less motivation to pursue sex for reproductive purposes and fewer expectations for people to behave in gender-typical ways. Drawing from scripts theory and pleasure theory, in two studies ( N 1 = 465; N 2 = 487) we examined lesbian and gay people’s acceptance of casual sex. We asked participants who had been propositioned for casual sex whether they accepted the offer and to rate their perceptions of the proposer’s sexual capabilities and sexual orientation. They also reported on their awareness of stigma surrounding casual sex. We found a gender difference in acceptance: Gay men were more likely than lesbian women to have accepted a casual sex offer fr...

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Mental Health for Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW)

This chapter reviews mental health research of sexual minorities who are defined by their same-ge... more This chapter reviews mental health research of sexual minorities who are defined by their same-gender sexual behavior. Women who have sex with women (WSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) encompass not only those who identify as LGBQ+ but also people who identify as heterosexual or are unsure of their sexual orientation. The authors discuss the implications of this broad categorization on the study of mental disorders and psychological distress and present the typical rates of risk for WSW and MSM overall and within subgroups (e.g., heterosexual-identified WSW, Black MSM). This area of research is often hindered by the multiple ways in which MSM and WSW groups can be defined and the vast heterogeneity of people who fall within these categories. Further, because of the origins of WSW/MSM-terminology in HIV/AIDS research, there is a gendered imbalance in allocation of research funding toward MSM over WSW. Future research should address the limitations of this categorization system ...

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How Do Women’s Attitudes Towards Heterosexual Men Differ By Their Sexual Orientation? A Test of Competing Hypotheses

Though feminist theory asserts that women’s sexuality in!uences their general relationship with h... more Though feminist theory asserts that women’s sexuality in!uences their general relationship with heterosexual men, the leading psychological measure of women’s attitudes towards heterosexual men, the Ambivalence towards Men Inventory (AMI), has not yet accounted for sexual orientation as a meaningful individual di"erence. In this current United States-based research (N = 318), we revisited the AMI to examine women’s attitudes towards heterosexual men as a function of women’s sexual orientation (i.e. lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual). Drawing from feminist and psychological theories of attitudes towards men, we 1) tested competing hypotheses regarding whether lesbian and bisexual women or heterosexual women would be highest in hostility, and 2) hypothesised that heterosexual women would hold more benevolent attitudes than lesbian and bisexual women. When controlling for feminist identity, lesbian women held more hostile attitudes towards heterosexual men, speci#cally on subscal...

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Examining Responses to Women’s Same-Sex Performativity: Perceptions of Sexual Orientation and Implications for Bisexual Prejudice

Journal of Bisexuality

Heterosexual women's public same-sex performativity (SSP) is thought to have significant negative... more Heterosexual women's public same-sex performativity (SSP) is thought to have significant negative impacts for queer women (e.g., Hamilton, 2007). SSP may (mis)inform observers' assumptions about women's same-sex sexuality more generally. In Studies 1a and 1b (N ¼ 541), we examined how heterosexual people perceive the sexual orientation and motivations of women engaging in SSP. We expanded on conceptualizations of SSP as harmful to queer identities by experimentally examining how exposure to SSP influences heterosexual participants' bisexual prejudice. In Study 2 (N ¼ 222), we examined bisexual women's perspectives on SSP and bisexual prejudice. Women who engage in SSP were often perceived as bisexual and as motivated by sexual experimentation and desire to shock onlookers. In Studies 1b and 2, we found that exposure to SSP increased endorsement of bisexual stereotypes and impacted bisexual women's felt identity legitimacy. These findings raise concerns about the potential of SSP to inform and reinforce bisexual prejudice.

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Understanding body size and bisexuality via femme theory: An investigation of self- and meta-perceptions of gender expression

Fat Studies

Existing literature fails to address bisexual women's experiences at the intersection of fem(me)i... more Existing literature fails to address bisexual women's experiences at the intersection of fem(me)ininity and fatness. Fat fem(me) inine bisexual women experience hyper-visibility in their fatness and hyper-invisibility in their fem(me)inine and queer identities; their concurrent violations of dominant norms of thinness, heterosexuality, monosexism, and expectations of queer women's gender expression (as masculine) position them as uniquely and multiply marginalized. Literature on these women's experiences of fat gendered embodiment is lacking but could inform understandings of mechanisms of multiple marginalization. In a sample of 188 bisexual women (61% White; M age = 27), we examined relationships between bisexual women's self-perceived femininity/masculinity, reports of how others perceive their femininity/ masculinity (i.e., meta-perceptions), and their body size. We hypothesized that bisexual women's self-reported gender expression would not correlate with body size, but that metaperceptions of bisexual women's gender expression would. Speci cally, we expected others to perceive fatter bisexual women as more masculine given the association of fatness with masculinity and butch lesbians. We found that both selfperceived and meta-perceptions of gender expression were generally unrelated to body size, whether measured via BMI or selfperception. However, moderation analyses revealed that when bisexual women were perceived as sexual minorities, increased BMI was related to decreased meta-perceptions of femininity. The present results suggest perceived sexual orientation may be an important factor in understanding how fatness, gender expression, and sexuality interact to produce the multiple marginalization faced by bisexual women. We discuss the need for closer examination of bisexual women's experiences of oppression at the intersection of fatness and fem(me)ininity.

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Daily Stressor Exposure and Daily Well-Being Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults in the United States: Results from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE)

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Background Daily stress plays a significant role in mental and physical health. Negative mood (e.... more Background Daily stress plays a significant role in mental and physical health. Negative mood (e.g., hopelessness) and physical symptoms (e.g., headaches) are responses often associated with daily stressors. It is theorized that some people or populations are more vulnerable or reactive to daily stressors. We propose sexual orientation as one factor that is associated with daily stress exposure and reactivity. Purpose To understand whether sexual minorities (SMs) differ from heterosexuals in their exposure and reactivity to general, non-sexual minority-specific stressors (e.g., arguments/disagreements, job concerns). Methods We used daily diary data (n = 3,323 heterosexuals [52% identified as female and 85% identified as White]; n = 98 SMs [50% identified as female and 93% identified as White]) from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE). Participants completed eight consecutive evening daily diary interviews (n days = 24,773; mean days completed = 7.24) and reported daily s...

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Bridging Feminist Psychology and Open Science: Feminist Tools and Shared Values Inform Best Practices for Science Reform

Psychology of Women Quarterly

Feminist researchers have long embraced the challenging, dismantling, and reimagining of psycholo... more Feminist researchers have long embraced the challenging, dismantling, and reimagining of psychology, though their contributions to transforming psychological science remain largely overlooked in the mainstream open science movement. In this article, we reconcile feminist psychology and open science. We propose that feminist theory can be leveraged to address central questions of the open science movement, and the potential for methodological synergy is promising. We signal the availability of feminist scholarship that can augment aspects of open science discourse. We also review the most compelling strategies for open science that can be harnessed by academic feminist psychologists. Drawing upon best practices in feminist psychology and open science, we address the following: generalizability (what are the contextual boundaries of results?), representation (who is included in research?), reflexivity (how can researchers reflect on who they are?), collaboration (are collaborative goa...

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Treat Sexual Stigma to Heal Health Disparities: Improving Sexual Minorities’ Health Outcomes

Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Despite recent strides toward equality in the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,... more Despite recent strides toward equality in the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people continue to report experiences of sexual stigma and psychological and physical health problems. This article reviews empirical evidence of sexual stigma and sexual orientation-based health disparities. The current framework proposes that sexual orientation does not cause health disparities; homophobic individuals and societies do. Social psychology, recognizing the power of the situation, suggests that changing the stigmatizing environments for LGBTQ people can effectively reduce health disparities. The science has policy implications—notably, for audiences at three levels (intraindividual, interpersonal, and institutional)—and provides recommendations for mitigating sexual stigma and improving health.

Bringing an Intersectional Lens to “Open” Science: An Analysis of Representation in the Reproducibility Project

Psychology of Women Quarterly

Feminist psychologists have called for researchers to consider the social and historical context ... more Feminist psychologists have called for researchers to consider the social and historical context and the multidimensionality of participants in research studies. The Reproducibility Project documents the degree to which the findings from mainstream psychological studies are reproduced. Drawing on intersectionality theory, we question the value of reproducing findings while ignoring who is represented, intersecting social and group identities, sociohistorical context, and the power and privilege that likely influence participants’ responses in psychology experiments. To critically examine the Reproducibility Project in psychology, we analyzed the 100 replication reports produced between 2011 and 2014 (Open Science Collaboration, 2015). We developed an intersectional analytic framework to investigate (a) representation, (b) whether demographic and identity factors were considered through a multidimensional or intersectional lens, (c) explanations of non-replication, and (d) whether so...

Facebook LGBTQ Pictivism: The Effects of Women’s Rainbow Profile Filters on Sexual Prejudice and Online Belonging

Psychology of Women Quarterly

Facebook’s rainbow profile filter represents a popular display of activism (“pictivism”) commonly... more Facebook’s rainbow profile filter represents a popular display of activism (“pictivism”) commonly used by women, yet little is known of pictivism’s potential for creating social change. We tested whether women’s group status (belonging to a dominant vs. marginalized group) and filter use influenced viewers’ perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. We conducted a series of 2 (target sexual orientation: queer or heterosexual) × 2 (filter use: filter or no filter) experiments with heterosexual ( N 1 = 198, N 2 = 186) and LGBTQ ( N 3 = 290) participants. Participants rated women who used rainbow filters as more activist than women who did not engage in pictivism. Although neither target sexual orientation nor filter use influenced participants’ ally behavior (donations), heterosexual people who viewed a woman using a filter reported greater closeness to LGBTQ people and greater intentions of supporting LGBTQ people when the woman was queer than heterosexual. Exposure to rainbow filters ca...

The role of women's orgasm goal pursuit in women's orgasm occurrence

Personality and Individual Differences

Heterosexual women&#39;s low orgasm rates are widely acknowledged within sexuality research. ... more Heterosexual women&#39;s low orgasm rates are widely acknowledged within sexuality research. However, researchers have not accounted for whether women are even pursuing orgasm (actively and purposefully attempting to orgasm) in their sexual encounters with men. Given that heterosexual sexual scripts often de-prioritize women&#39;s pleasure, women may vary in their orgasm goal pursuit-whether they set orgasm as a goal and strive to have an orgasm-in any given sexual encounter, with some women being less likely to pursue orgasm than others. Across two studies, we investigated the association between women&#39;s orgasm goal pursuit and orgasm occurrence. By examining the variations in women&#39;s orgasm goal pursuit, we aimed to explain why some women orgasm in their sexual encounters and other women do not. Women who reported greater orgasm pursuit were more likely to report that they orgasmed in their most recent sexual encounter. These findings suggest that researchers should not assume that women equally pursue orgasm in their sexual encounters, and that this important individual difference can help explain differences in orgasm occurrence between women.

Do Actions Speak Louder than Words?: Perceptions of Women’s and Men’s Branched and Coincident Configurations of Sexual Identities and Behaviors

Psychology & Sexuality

The Science of Female Orgasms: Pleasing Female Partners in Casual and Long-Term Relationships

The Psychology of Love and Hate in Intimate Relationships, 2016

Families of Choice and Community Connectedness: A Brief Guide to the Social Strengths of LGBTQ Older Adults

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

exual and gender minority older adults (those who are age ≥50 and identify as lesbian, gay, bisex... more exual and gender minority older adults (those who are age ≥50 and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer [LGBTQ]) are described as a generation of people who are "aging in silence" because they have historically been left out of aging services, policies, and research (Choi & Meyer, 2016; Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2016, 2017; Fredriksen-Goldsen & Espinoza, 2014). Today's 2.4 million LGBTQ older adults are without adequate aging services and resources designed to address their unique strengths and challenges. Five million LGBTQ older adults are expected to live in the United States by 2030, and this estimate doubles to 10 million when considering older adults who may not identify as LGBTQ but engage in same-sex behavior and romantic relationships (Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2018; Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2015; Fredriksen-Goldsen & Kim, 2017; Gates, 2017). In this editorial, we draw from the Health Equity Promotion Model (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2014) to discuss social strengths of the LGBTQ community. We suggest health care providers gather information about families of choice and community connections to better understand and integrate sources of support into the care of LGBTQ older adults.

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Life Satisfaction Across Adulthood in Bisexual Men and Women: Findings from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study

by Jes L Matsick and Britney Wardecker, PhD

Further, we tested whether life satisfaction among bisexuals changes at the same rate and in the ... more Further, we tested whether life satisfaction among bisexuals changes at the same rate and in the same pattern as for lesbian , gay, and heterosexual individuals. Overall, we found a linear pattern of increase in life satisfaction across adulthood. However, when we accounted for sexual orientation, a different pattern emerged for bisexuals. Whereas heterosexuals and lesbian and gay individuals experienced increases in life satisfaction across adulthood, bisexuals' life satisfaction did not increase over this period. Implications for bisexual health and well-being are discussed.

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Carving Sexuality at Its Joints: Defining Sexual Orientation in Research and Clinical Practice

In this article, we review basic research on sexual orientation for a clinical scientist–practiti... more In this article, we review basic research on sexual orientation for a clinical scientist–practitioner audience. We present contemporary and evolving approaches to defining and measuring sexual orientation , and we provide suggestions for how to translate psychological theory into best practices (i.e., how to select appropriate sexuality measures in both research and clinical settings). Our focus is on evaluating currently available measures of sexual orientation in terms of comprehensiveness and feasibility: How thoroughly are components of sexuality captured and how feasible it is to use such measures in research and clinical settings? Basic research in sexuality has progressed beyond our current clinical practices and should be used as a guide to more responsibly conceptualize participants and clients. While we determine that the current options are far from perfect, the critical clinician will find that contemporary measures of sexual orientation prove more useful than more simplistic predecessors. This review will elucidate best strategies for translating sexual orientation research and theory into clinical practice and provide clinicians and researchers alike with theoretically grounded support for tools of measurement and assessment. Public Significance Statement This review article translates basic sexual orientation research into best practices for research and clinical audiences. The numerous definitions and evolving, fluid components of sexual orientation demand careful thought when selecting measurement.

Bisexual Prejudice Among Lesbian and Gay People: Examining the Roles of Gender and Perceived Sexual Orientation

by Jes L Matsick and Jennifer Rubin

Research on dynamics within communities of sexual and gender minorities is scant, despite reports... more Research on dynamics within communities of sexual and gender minorities is scant, despite reports that people experience prejudice within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) spaces. The present research examined dynamics within LGBTQ communities and used gender as a lens of understanding bisexual prejudice among lesbian women and gay men. In two online studies with lesbian and gay participants (N Study1 120; N Study2 165), we randomly assigned participants to reflect on lesbian and gay people's attitudes toward bisexual women or bisexual men. In each study, we evaluated lesbian and gay people's perceptions of identity instability, sexual irresponsibility, and interpersonal hostility. In Study 2, we proposed that beliefs about bisexual people's attraction (to men or to women) serve as a mechanism of bisexual prejudice among lesbian and gay people. We found that people perceived bisexual women and men as being more sexually attracted to men than they are to women, which helps to explain why some lesbian women reported more negative attitudes toward bisexual women than gay men did. Moreover, we tested whether lesbian and gay people's identification with their ingroup, as well as their experiences with dating bisexuals, exacerbated negative perceptions of bisexuals. Taken together, these studies offer implications for reducing bisexual health disparities via improving dynamics within LGBTQ communities. Public Significance Statement This research suggests that gender dynamics play a critical role in how bisexual women and men are evaluated in LGBTQ communities. Lesbian and gay people perceive bisexual women and men as being more sexually attracted to men than they are to women, which helps to explain why some lesbian women may feel negatively about bisexual women. These results shed light on how and why bisexual individuals may experience prejudice from lesbian and gay people.

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Unique and Shared Relationship Benefits of Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Relationships A Review and Insights for Moving Forward

by Heath A Schechinger and Jes L Matsick

The increased media and public curiosity on the topic of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) presents a... more The increased media and public curiosity on the topic of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) presents an interesting case, given that these types of relationships are highly stigmatized. In the present review piece, we first situate common themes of benefits that people believe are afforded to them by their CNM relationships within the current state of the literature to provide insight into unique and shared (with monogamy) relationship benefits. This approach helps uncover relationship benefits and theoretical advances for research on CNM by highlighting some of the key features of CNM relationships that people find rewarding, including need fulfillment, variety of activities, and personal growth and development. Second, we discuss common misconceptions about CNM and stigma toward CNM. Finally, we conclude with future directions and recommendations for scholars interested in pursuing research on CNM.

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Femininity Concerns and Feelings About Menstruation Cessation Among Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Women: Implications for Menopause

Journal of women's health, 2021

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Does Monogamy Harm Women? Deconstructing Monogamy with a Feminist Lens

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Mental Health for Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW)

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How Do Women’s Attitudes Towards Heterosexual Men Differ By Their Sexual Orientation? A Test of Competing Hypotheses

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Examining Responses to Women’s Same-Sex Performativity: Perceptions of Sexual Orientation and Implications for Bisexual Prejudice

Journal of Bisexuality

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Understanding body size and bisexuality via femme theory: An investigation of self- and meta-perceptions of gender expression

Fat Studies

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Daily Stressor Exposure and Daily Well-Being Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults in the United States: Results from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE)

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

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Bridging Feminist Psychology and Open Science: Feminist Tools and Shared Values Inform Best Practices for Science Reform

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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Treat Sexual Stigma to Heal Health Disparities: Improving Sexual Minorities’ Health Outcomes

Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Bringing an Intersectional Lens to “Open” Science: An Analysis of Representation in the Reproducibility Project

Psychology of Women Quarterly

Facebook LGBTQ Pictivism: The Effects of Women’s Rainbow Profile Filters on Sexual Prejudice and Online Belonging

Psychology of Women Quarterly

The role of women's orgasm goal pursuit in women's orgasm occurrence

Personality and Individual Differences

Do Actions Speak Louder than Words?: Perceptions of Women’s and Men’s Branched and Coincident Configurations of Sexual Identities and Behaviors

Psychology & Sexuality

The Science of Female Orgasms: Pleasing Female Partners in Casual and Long-Term Relationships

The Psychology of Love and Hate in Intimate Relationships, 2016

Families of Choice and Community Connectedness: A Brief Guide to the Social Strengths of LGBTQ Older Adults

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

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Life Satisfaction Across Adulthood in Bisexual Men and Women: Findings from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study

by Jes L Matsick and Britney Wardecker, PhD

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Carving Sexuality at Its Joints: Defining Sexual Orientation in Research and Clinical Practice

Bisexual Prejudice Among Lesbian and Gay People: Examining the Roles of Gender and Perceived Sexual Orientation

by Jes L Matsick and Jennifer Rubin

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Unique and Shared Relationship Benefits of Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Relationships A Review and Insights for Moving Forward

by Heath A Schechinger and Jes L Matsick

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Carving Sexuality at Its Joints: Defining Sexual Orientation in Research and Clinical Practice

by Jes L Matsick and Jessica Matsick

Note: This article is not to be used for widespread dissemination and is for educational purposes... more Note: This article is not to be used for widespread dissemination and is for educational purposes only.

In this article, we review basic research on sexual orientation for a clinical scientist–practitioner audience. We present contemporary and evolving approaches to defining and measuring sexual orientation , and we provide suggestions for how to translate psychological theory into best practices (i.e., how to select appropriate sexuality measures in both research and clinical settings). Our focus is on evaluating currently available measures of sexual orientation in terms of comprehensiveness and feasibility: How thoroughly are components of sexuality captured and how feasible it is to use such measures in research and clinical settings? Basic research in sexuality has progressed beyond our current clinical practices and should be used as a guide to more responsibly conceptualize participants and clients. While we determine that the current options are far from perfect, the critical clinician will find that contemporary measures of sexual orientation prove more useful than more simplistic predecessors. This review will elucidate best strategies for translating sexual orientation research and theory into clinical practice and provide clinicians and researchers alike with theoretically grounded support for tools of measurement and assessment.

Public Significance Statement This review article translates basic sexual orientation research into best practices for research and clinical audiences. The numerous definitions and evolving, fluid components of sexual orientation demand careful thought when selecting measurement.

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Life satisfaction across adulthood in bisexual men and women: Findings from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study

by Britney Wardecker, PhD, Jes L Matsick, and Jennifer Graham-Engeland

The number of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50 and older is projected to reach 5 m... more The number of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50 and older is projected to reach 5 million in the U.S. by 2030 (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, Shiu, Goldsen, & Emlet, 2015). Older bisexuals experience more negative mental and physical health outcomes when compared to both heterosexuals and other sexual minorities (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Shiu, Bryan, Goldsen, & Kim, 2017). As bisexuals are the numeric majority of sexual minorities in the U.S. (Herbenick et al., 2010), bisexual aging processes are critical to understand if researchers wish to reduce sexual minority health disparities and promote healthy aging. In the current study, we use a national probability sample of adults from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to assess life satisfaction across an 18-year period. We aimed to identify whether life satisfaction-an indicator of psychological health and well-being-is similar for same-age bisexual, lesbian and gay, and heterosexual midlife individuals, and whether sexual orientation predicts change in life satisfaction across adulthood. Further, we tested whether life satisfaction among bisexuals changes at the same rate and in the same pattern as for lesbian, gay, and heterosexual individuals. Overall, we found a linear pattern of increase in life satisfaction across adulthood. However, when we accounted for sexual orientation, a different pattern emerged for bisexuals. Whereas heterosexuals and lesbian and gay individuals experienced increases in life satisfaction across adulthood, bisexuals' life satisfaction did not increase over this period. Implications for bisexual health and well-being are discussed.

Jes L Matsick

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