Background: Asexuality is a complex construct with a considerable lack of research until recently. We aimed to examine the extent with which asexual individuals differ in their sexual and relationship experiences and expectations, depending on their (a)romantic orientation. Specifically, we compared aromantic and romantic asexual individuals in their identification with asexuality, past sexual experiences, past experiences with romantic relationships, relationship concerns (commitment and sexual performance), and attachment style. Methods: A cross-sectional study with members of asexual online communities (N = 447, 55.02% women; Mage = 24.77, SD = 7.21) completed an online survey. Most of the sample (73.8%) indicated a romantic orientation, and 22.4% of the sample indicated to currently have a romantic relationship. We computed t-tests, ?2 tests, and ANOVAs. Results: Aromantic asexual individuals identified more with asexuality, reported a more avoidant attachment style, and were more concerned with relationship commitment. In contrast, romantic asexual individuals reported less sex aversion, more sexual experiences (both past and current), and more sexual partners in the past. These individuals also indicated to have engaged in romantic relationships more frequently, desired to engage in romantic relationships in the future (either with or without sexual intimacy), and were more concerned with sexual performance. Conclusions: This study adds to the debate about the conceptualization of asexuality, and suggests that asexuality goes beyond the mere absence of sexual attraction to others. Our study also showed that romantic orientation has an important role in the way individuals identify with asexuality, how they construe sexuality and interpersonal relationships, and how they establish emotional and/or romantic intimacy with others. Understanding the characteristics of different subgroups of asexual individuals will contribute to a better understanding of asexuality not only in academia, but also in clinical practice.

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