Editing Sexual fluidity (section)

====Youth (age 14–21)====

One study that did compare the stability of youth sexual orientation identity across genders found results opposite to most done with adult samples. The study compared [[non-heterosexual]] male and female sexual orientation over a year and concluded that female youth were more likely to report consistent sexual identities than males.<ref name=RSHB06>{{cite journal | last1 = Rosario | first1 = M. | last2 = Schrimshaw | first2 = E.W. | last3 = Hunter | first3 = J. | last4 = Braun | first4 = L. | year = 2006 | title = Sexual identity development among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth: consistency and change over time | journal = The Journal of Sex Research | volume = 43 | issue = 1| pages = 46–58 | doi=10.1080/00224490609552298| pmid = 16817067 | pmc = 3215279 }}</ref> The study was conducted over a single year.

Youth appears to be when most change in sexual orientation identity occurs for females. A 10-year study compared sexual orientation as measured at four times during the study. The most change was found between the first (taken at 18 years of age) and second (taken at 20 years of age) measurements which was the only time bracket that fell during adolescence.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

A population-based study conducted over 6 years found that nonheterosexual (gay/lesbian/bisexual) male and female participants were more likely to change sexual orientation identity than heterosexual participants.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Savin-Williams | first1 = R.C. | last2 = Ream | first2 = G.L. | year = 2007 | title = Prevalence and stability of sexual orientation components during adolescence and young adulthood | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 36 | issue = 3| pages = 385–394 | doi=10.1007/s10508-006-9088-5 | pmid=17195103| s2cid = 20819699 }}</ref> A yearlong study found that sexual identity was more stable for gay and lesbian youth participants when compared to bisexual participants.<ref name=RSHB06 /> 

The identity integration process that individuals go through during adolescence appears to be associated with changes in sexual identity; adolescents who score higher on identity integration measures are more consistent in their sexual orientation. Bisexual youths seem to take longer to form their sexual identities than do consistently homosexual or heterosexual identifying youths<ref name=RSHB06 /> so bisexuality may be seen as a transitional phase during adolescence. Rosario et al. (2006) conclude that "acceptance, commitment, and integration of a gay/lesbian identity is an ongoing developmental process that, for many youths, may extend through adolescence and beyond."<ref name=RSHB06 />

Sabra L. Katz-Wise and Janet S. Hide report in article published 2014 in "Archives of Sexual Behavior" of their study on 188 female and male young adults in the United States with a same-gender orientation, aged 18–26 years. In that cohort, sexual fluidity in attractions was reported by 63% of females and 50% of males, with 48% of those females and 34% of those males reporting fluidity in sexual orientation identity.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Katz-Wise | first1 = Sabra | last2 = Hide | first2 = Janet S. | year = 2014 | title = Sexual fluidity and related attitudes and beliefs among young adults with a same-gender orientation| journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 44 | issue = 5 | pages = 1459–1470 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-014-0420-1 | pmid = 25378265 | s2cid = 21201365 }}</ref>