Breakups May Change How Adults Understand Their Sexual Orientation, Study Finds

Ending a committed relationship can cause more than emotional distress; it may also lead people to reconsider their sexual identity. A new study published in The Journal of Sex Research found that adults experiencing significant life disruptions after a breakup were more likely to report sexual orientation ambiguity.

The study, titled “Understanding Sexual Orientation Ambiguity: Perceptions of Transitional Impacts in the Context of a Relationship Dissolution,” contributes to research examining how identity continues to evolve throughout adulthood. Its findings suggest that when relationships end and everyday circumstances change, questions about attraction and sexual identity may emerge in unexpected ways.

The research suggests that practical consequences of a breakup, including moving, financial difficulties or losing shared friends, may be associated with changes in how people understand their sexuality. The findings add to evidence that sexual development can continue throughout adulthood rather than ending in adolescence.

How life transitions shape identity

Social scientists increasingly understand human development as a lifelong process shaped by predictable milestones and unexpected turning points. Life course theory suggests that major disruptions can change a person's life trajectory and sense of identity well beyond early adulthood.

Identity process theory builds on this perspective, proposing that individuals continually adjust their identities to maintain a coherent sense of self as circumstances change. During major transitions, people may incorporate new characteristics or reconsider existing ones to preserve that sense of continuity.

Romantic breakups can be particularly disruptive. Separating previously shared lives may prompt deeper questions about attraction, sexual behavior and which identity labels feel most authentic.

What the researchers investigated

Sexual orientation is commonly understood through three related dimensions: attraction, behavior and identity. These aspects do not always align, and inconsistencies between them can contribute to what researchers describe as sexual orientation ambiguity.

Sexual orientation ambiguity refers to experiences in which sexuality feels inconsistent, fluid or uncertain. Although often associated with adolescence and early adulthood, research increasingly suggests that changes in sexual identity can occur throughout life.

Grace A. O'Toole and colleagues at Kansas State University investigated whether the dissolution of a committed relationship was associated with greater sexual orientation ambiguity. They also examined whether emotional distress and practical consequences of breakups showed different relationships with these experiences.

Inside the breakup-focused study

The researchers recruited 493 U.S. adults through an online platform. All participants had experienced the end of a committed romantic relationship within the previous two years. Their ages ranged from 18 to 76, allowing researchers to examine experiences across adulthood.

Participants completed questionnaires describing the breakup's consequences. The researchers distinguished psychological effects, including changes in mood and thinking, from material consequences such as changes in housing, financial difficulties and disruptions to social networks.

Participants also answered questions measuring sexual orientation ambiguity and uncertainty. Ambiguity assessed whether their orientation seemed to be changing rapidly, while uncertainty reflected broader doubts or confusion about sexual identity.

Key findings on sexuality and disruption

Using statistical models that accounted for gender, race, sexual orientation and relationship seriousness, researchers examined how different breakup consequences were associated with sexual identity. The strongest association involved material disruption.

Participants reporting greater material consequences following a breakup were more likely to experience sexual orientation ambiguity. Changes in housing, finances or social relationships were associated with a greater sense that their sexual orientation was changing.

In contrast, psychological distress was not a significant predictor of sexual orientation ambiguity. Emotional pain and mood changes alone did not demonstrate the same statistical relationship with changes in how participants understood their sexuality.

Differences across identity groups

The researchers also identified differences between demographic groups. Bisexual participants reported higher levels of sexual orientation ambiguity than heterosexual participants, consistent with earlier research examining bisexual identity fluidity and social pressures.

Bisexual individuals may encounter skepticism about the legitimacy or stability of their orientation, potentially contributing to feelings of inconsistency. These experiences may become particularly relevant during major life transitions, including relationship dissolution.

Gender identity and race were also associated with differences. Genderqueer participants reported greater sexual orientation ambiguity than cisgender men, while Black participants reported higher levels than White participants. The authors suggest that intersecting social expectations and cultural norms may influence how people experience and describe changes in sexuality.

Role of relationship type and cohabitation

The nature of the previous relationship also appeared relevant. Participants who had lived with their former partners reported lower levels of sexual orientation ambiguity than those who had been seriously dating without living together.

One possible explanation is that cohabiting relationships involve more established routines and roles, potentially contributing to greater identity stability after separation. Alternatively, people who choose to live together may already have a more firmly developed sense of identity, including their sexuality.

However, the researchers could not determine why this difference occurred. They acknowledge that social and economic factors associated with cohabitation may also influence the findings.

Clinical implications and public understanding

The findings support the view that sexual development can continue beyond adolescence and early adulthood. Adults may experience changes in attraction, behavior or identity labels as their circumstances evolve, particularly during significant life transitions.

For therapists and counselors, the study highlights the importance of recognizing sexuality as a potentially changing aspect of identity. Professionals supporting people after breakups may benefit from considering how practical disruptions, alongside emotional distress, relate to questions about sexual orientation.

Greater public understanding of sexual fluidity throughout adulthood may also help reduce stigma and confusion. Recognizing that identity labels can feel less stable during major transitions could make these experiences easier to navigate.

Limitations and future directions

The study relied on cross-sectional data collected at a single point in time. Consequently, the findings cannot establish that breakup-related disruptions cause sexual orientation ambiguity, only that the two are associated.

It is also possible that individuals already questioning their sexual orientation experienced greater relationship difficulties or were more likely to separate. Longitudinal studies following participants over time could help clarify the direction of these relationships.

The sample consisted predominantly of heterosexual, cisgender and White participants, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Experiences among LGBTQ+ people of color and individuals from different cultural backgrounds may differ substantially.

Additionally, the measures assessing sexual orientation ambiguity were originally validated primarily among young adults. Their use with older participants provides an initial perspective, but further research is needed to ensure they adequately capture sexual development in middle and later adulthood.

The authors emphasize the importance of studying more diverse populations and following individuals over longer periods. Such research could clarify how relationship disruptions interact with sexual identity and which forms of social support help adults navigate these transitions.

Article prepared by Victoria Caldwell.