The proportion of people who identify as homosexuals has remained relatively stable over the past decade, standing at between 1.7 and 2 percent of Stockholm's inhabitants. However, between 2010 and 2021, the proportion of those who define themselves as bisexual increased from 1.6 to 3.1 percent, according to a study from the Karolinska Institute and Region Stockholm.
The results are based on survey responses from 98,000 individuals over 16 years old and show clear differences between generations. Of those born from the beginning of the 1980s to the mid-1990s, Generation Y, 7.8 percent identified as homo- or bisexual. In Generation Z, i.e., those born between the mid-1990s and the beginning of the 2010s, the figure was 12 percent.
Increased Acceptance
The researchers have not studied why the proportion is increasing, but there may be several explanations, according to Willi Zhang, researcher at the Department of Global Public Health at the Karolinska Institute and one of the study authors.
It may have to do with increased social acceptance. We see that it increases most in the younger generations, and that's because they grow up in a more inclusive environment, he says.
The researchers also found that sexual identity is something that changes. In a sub-analysis, it was shown that nearly 16 percent changed at least once during the study period. Primarily, it was bisexual individuals who changed their sexual identity from heterosexual.
Subject to Discrimination
Bisexuals have, according to previous research, an increased risk of experiencing both ill-health and discrimination compared to others. This includes an increased risk of depression and suicide attempts. As the group is now growing, society needs to be able to meet these.
There are studies from other countries that indicate that bisexuals risk being discriminated against by both heterosexuals and homosexuals, they are pressed from two sides, says Willi Zhang.
The development with a growing proportion of bisexuals is not surprising, he believes. The same trend has previously been seen in, among other countries, the USA and the UK.
We are now planning to look at health differences between individuals with different sexual orientations over time, he says.
The results are published as a research letter in Jama Network Open.
