Research Article

Toward Global Comparability of Sexual Orientation Data in Official Statistics: A Conceptual Framework of Sexual Orientation for Health Data Collection in New Zealand’s Official Statistics System

Table 2

Proposed working definitions for the sexual orientation measurement concepts.

Measurement conceptProposed working definitionSource

Sexual attractionThe desire to have sexual relationships or to be in a primary loving, sexual relationship with one or both sexes.Savin-Williams (page 41) [19]

Sexual behaviourAny mutually voluntary activity […] that involves genital contact (for at least one of the partners) and sexual excitement or arousal, that is feeling really turned on, even if intercourse or orgasm did not occur.Laumann et al. (page 67) [20], text in brackets added by authors

Sexual identityPersonally selected, socially, and historically bound labels attached to the perceptions and meanings individuals have about their sexualitySavin-Williams (page 41) [19]