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

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.