J Herrero Rafael, Bourmaud Aurélie, Boizeau Priscilla, Ohayon Dr. Michel

(95) GAY SEX AND THE GENDERED BRAIN. ARE BOTTOMS MORE FEM-BRAINED THAN TOPS? THE TBORNOTTB SURVEY OF 8,755 MEN

  • Urology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
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Abstract Objectives The TBornotTB Survey set out to study the construction of the sexual anal positions (often termed “bottom”, “top”, and “versatile”) in men who have sex with men (MSM). This part of our study was to observe if personality traits traditionally considered gender-typical varied according to anal sexual identity (ASI) amongst MSM. Methods An on-line anonymous questionnaire (The TBornotTB Survey) was made available in the French language to all cisgender MSM of at least 18 years of age between June 25 and October 26 2020, including questions on personality traits traditionally associated with femininity or masculinity. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed according to a statistical analysis plan drafted prior to the implementation of the study. Parametric or non-parametric tests were performed according to variable distribution. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results 8,755 respondents met all the inclusion criteria for statistical analysis. 5,654 individuals responded to the questions concerning male-typical psychology (risk-taking, violence, sharing of feelings, spatial orientation and utilitarianism) and 5,651 responded to the questions concerning female-typical psychology (caring for others, consoling others, empathy, intuition and verbal capacity). In all the five categories associated with “female-typical” psychology, “bottoms” scored the lowest and “versatiles” scored the highest (e.g.- “Caring Category”: 78.3% “bottoms” agree vs 83.8% “versatiles”). In the five categories associated with “male-typical” psychology, “tops” scored the highest in all except in the category of risk-taking, where “bottoms” outscored the other two groups [“bottoms” like risk-taking (27.6%) vs. “tops” (22.7%] (p<0.01). Conclusions Our study is the largest study on this subject to date. The TBornotTB data suggest that there are psychological traits traditionally considered gender-typical that differ according to ASI. Nonetheless, our data counter the social assumption that “bottoms” hold a psychological make-up that is traditionally associated with femininity and give a scientific basis to oppose commonly held clichés. Conflicts of Interest No confict of interest to be declared.

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