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Changing Sexual Attitudes in China, 2010 to 2021: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.

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Title: Changing Sexual Attitudes in China, 2010 to 2021: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.
Authors: Gao, Chenzhuo (AUTHOR), Wang, Sasa (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Sex Research. May2026, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p623-635. 13p.
Subjects: Cohort analysis, Attitudes toward sex, Generation gap, Same-sex relationships, Premarital sex, Adultery, Chinese people
Geographic Terms: China
Abstract: Despite numerous studies on changing sexual attitudes in China, little is known about the distinct contributions of age, period, and cohort to these changes, and how sex disparities in attitudes evolved over periods and generations. This study used hierarchical age-period-cohort analysis on seven waves of Chinese General Social Survey data to address these gaps. Findings showed independent effects of age, period, and cohort. Attitudes toward premarital and same-sex activities grew more restrictive with age, while extramarital sex attitudes grew more restrictive in middle age, relaxing slightly in later years. From 2010 to 2021, attitudes toward premarital and same-sex activities became less restrictive, while extramarital sex attitudes remained stable. Significant attitudinal shifts occurred among those born before and after 1980. The post-1980 generation showed decreased restrictiveness toward premarital and same-sex sexual activities, but increased restrictiveness toward extramarital sex. The post-1990s generation exhibited increased restrictiveness regarding premarital sex. Sex disparities in attitudes toward premarital and same-sex activities differed across cohorts but remained steady over periods. Women were consistently more tolerant of same-sex sexual practices but more restrictive of premarital sex across most cohorts. Sex disparities in attitudes toward premarital and same-sex sexual behaviors widened among those born after 1975. This study provides explanations in the Chinese context and offers insights for future research and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Changing Sexual Attitudes in China, 2010 to 2021: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gao%2C+Chenzhuo%22">Gao, Chenzhuo</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Sasa%22">Wang, Sasa</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cohort+analysis%22">Cohort analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes+toward+sex%22">Attitudes toward sex</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generation+gap%22">Generation gap</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Same-sex+relationships%22">Same-sex relationships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Premarital+sex%22">Premarital sex</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adultery%22">Adultery</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chinese+people%22">Chinese people</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Despite numerous studies on changing sexual attitudes in China, little is known about the distinct contributions of age, period, and cohort to these changes, and how sex disparities in attitudes evolved over periods and generations. This study used hierarchical age-period-cohort analysis on seven waves of Chinese General Social Survey data to address these gaps. Findings showed independent effects of age, period, and cohort. Attitudes toward premarital and same-sex activities grew more restrictive with age, while extramarital sex attitudes grew more restrictive in middle age, relaxing slightly in later years. From 2010 to 2021, attitudes toward premarital and same-sex activities became less restrictive, while extramarital sex attitudes remained stable. Significant attitudinal shifts occurred among those born before and after 1980. The post-1980 generation showed decreased restrictiveness toward premarital and same-sex sexual activities, but increased restrictiveness toward extramarital sex. The post-1990s generation exhibited increased restrictiveness regarding premarital sex. Sex disparities in attitudes toward premarital and same-sex activities differed across cohorts but remained steady over periods. Women were consistently more tolerant of same-sex sexual practices but more restrictive of premarital sex across most cohorts. Sex disparities in attitudes toward premarital and same-sex sexual behaviors widened among those born after 1975. This study provides explanations in the Chinese context and offers insights for future research and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192783904
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/00224499.2025.2499558
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 623
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      – SubjectFull: Cohort analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes toward sex
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Generation gap
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Same-sex relationships
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Premarital sex
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adultery
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chinese people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Changing Sexual Attitudes in China, 2010 to 2021: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.
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            NameFull: Gao, Chenzhuo
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            NameFull: Wang, Sasa
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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