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Adjustment of male homosexuals and heterosexuals

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Abstract

A consideration of the marked disagreement in the literature concerning the adjustment of homosexuals compared to heterosexuals led to the present study. Male homosexuals (307) and male heterosexuals (137), obtained from nonclinical sources, responded to questionnaires measuring several adjustment variables. For the total samples, the homosexuals, compared to the heterosexuals, described themselves as less well adjusted on four scales, better adjusted on three scales, and not different on six scales. A select group of masculine homosexuals, in contrast to masculine heterosexuals, reported better adjustment on six factors, no differences on six dimensions, and atypical adjustment on one factor. The importance of considering nonclinical masculine vs. feminine homosexuals and heterosexuals, the multifactorial nature of adjustment, and the problem of subject selection are discussed.

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This research was supported by Research Grant MH 16692 from the National Institute of Mental Health and a grant from The City College Research Foundation.

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Siegelman, M. Adjustment of male homosexuals and heterosexuals. Arch Sex Behav 2, 9–25 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542016

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