special subjects
Overview of Sexuality
Developmental aspects of sexuality
See also Sexuality and Gender . Helping adolescents put sexuality and sexual identity into a healthy context is extremely important. Some adolescents struggle with the issue of sexual identity and may be afraid to reveal their sexual identity to friends or family members, particularly if they have a non-heterosexual identity. Adolescents with a non-heterosexual identity are 2 to 3 times more likely to have suicidal behavior and nonsuicidal, self-harming behaviors than their heterosexual peers ( References , Children exposed to verbal and physical hostility, rejection, and cruelty may develop problems with sexual and emotional intimacy. For example, love and sexual arousal may become dissociated, so that although emotional bonds can be formed with people from the same peer group, sexual relationships can be formed only with those for whom there is no emotional intimacy, typically those who are in some way depreciated (eg, sex workers, anonymous partners, people perceived to be of a lower socioeconomic class). 