Correlates of non-heterosexual identity reporting in Czechia: A nationally representative study
M Pitoňák, A StašekAbstract
Background
Reliable sexual orientation data are needed to monitor sexual and gender minority (SGM) health, but remain scarce in Central and Eastern Europe. In Czechia, observed prevalence may reflect both population composition and the conditions under which people feel able to self-identify, reflecting reporting bias from measurement modality. We examined associations of survey mode, age, sex assigned at birth, socioeconomic status (SES), and city size with reporting a non-heterosexual identity.
Methods
We analyzed data from a mixed-mode, quota-based (sex, age category, education, region, and municipality size) survey designed to be nationally representative of adults aged 18-75 years in Czechia (N = 6,669), using online (n = 4,660) and face-to-face (n = 2,009) data collection. Sexual identity was modelled as a binary outcome in hierarchical logistic regression. Generational differences in identity labels were described.
Results
Overall, 91.2% identified as heterosexual, about 6% as non-heterosexual, and 0.7% as questioning. In the fully adjusted model, face-to-face respondents had 48% lower odds of reporting a non-heterosexual identity than online respondents. Age was also significant: a one-SD increase (15.8 years) was associated with 49% lower odds. Sex assigned at birth was not significant. Higher SES was associated with slightly lower odds (16% per SD), while larger city size was associated with higher odds (18% per SD). Non-heterosexual identification was reported by 2.4% of the pre-Velvet generation, 7.0% of the transitional generation, and 12.4% of the social-media generation.
Conclusions
Reported non-heterosexual identity in Czechia is shaped by privacy conditions, sociohistorical position, and spatial context. Public health monitoring should therefore use privacy-protective measurement and transparent reporting of survey mode and nonresponse.