Individual differences in the context of sexual orientation. Personality and temperament in women’s population

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this study is an analysis of personality and temperament profiles in homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual women’s groups.
Material and methods. The project included 85 women: 39 homosexual, 15 bisexual and 31 heterosexual women. The sexual orientation of each participant was determined by her direct declaration in the demographic questionnaire. The study involved: Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Formal Characteristics of Behaviour Temperament Inventory of Zawadzki & Strelau.
Results. The obtained results indicate significant differences between homosexual and bisexual women in terms of Lie Scale (p = 0.004) and between homosexual and heterosexual women in terms of Neuroticism (p = 0.003) and Lie Scale (p = 0.023). The study shows differences between bisexual and homosexual group on factors: G - Low Super Ego Strength–High Super Ego Strength (p = 0.037), I - Harria-Premsia (p = 0.034), L - Alaxia-Protension (p = 0.027), M - Praxernia-Autia (p = 0.009), O - Untroubled- Guilt Proneness (p = 0.037) and Q3 - Low Integration-High Self-Concept Control (p = 0.029). The obtained results indicate differences on two factors between heterosexual women and lesbians: Q1 - Conservatism–Radicalism (p = 0.043) and Q4 - Low Ergic Tension-High Ergic Tension (p= 0.027). The results indicate significant differences between bisexual and heterosexual women on two factors: G - Low Super Ego Strength-High Super Ego Strength (p = 0.035) and M - Praxernia-Autia (p = 0.016). The collected data shows a significant differences between homosexual and bisexual group in three dimensions: Endurance (p = 0.004), Activity (p = 0.009) and Perseveration (p = 0.036), between homosexual and heterosexual group in three dimensions as well: Endurance (p = 0.008), Activity (p = 0.018) and Emotional Reactivity (p = 0.014). The difference between heterosexual and bisexual group regards Sensory Sensitivity (p = 0.030).
Conclusion. The above study shows an evidence to support the thesis that there are statistically significant differences between homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual women in their personality and temperament profiles.