Background

1. Attitudes and Internalized Homophobia in Gay and Lesbian College Students Mickey E. White, B.S. & Amy R. Murrell, Ph.D. Methods Conclusions Background • Results support the hypothesis that homonegative attitudes are significant predictors of internalized homophobia in gay, lesbian and bisexual college students. • Findings indicate that traditional (moral and religious) attitudes were better predictors of internalized homophobia, implying that major issues surrounding internalized homophobia may be morally or developmentally based. • These findings can help influence the treatment of GLB individuals who experience high levels of internalized homophobia. One way to do this is by decreasing incongruence between sexual identity and feelings and attitudes toward others of the same sexual orientation. • Internalized homophobia (IH) is often conceptualized as “a set of negative attitudes and affects toward homosexuality in others and toward homosexual features in oneself” (Shidlo, 1994, p. 178). • IH has been found to be significantly related to measures of distress in gay and lesbian individuals (Gonsiorek, 1988). • Researchers report that IH is a significant predictor of depression (Alexander, 1987), anxiety (Miranda & Storms, 1989), and shame (Allen & Oleson, 1999) • Previous homonegative attitude scales were created to administer to heterosexuals; this study is one of the first to present those measures to a nonheterosexual population • Undergraduates (N = 79) at The University of North Texas who self-identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual completed an online survey. This administration included questions about attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, and a questionnaire assessing levels of internalized homophobia. • A linear regression was used to determine if homonegative attitudes towards gays and lesbians significantly predicted increased levels of internalized homophobia. • Gay and bisexual men were presented with the ATLG, MHS, and the IHS; lesbian and bisexual women completed the ATLG, MHS, and the LIHS.* • *Due to administrator error, only 19 items of the ATLG were administered to all participants Limitations Results Purpose • Those who agreed to participate in this study were self-identified GLB individuals in various stages of identity development. This study did not address developmental stages of coming out and internalized homophobia. • This was a sample of convenience, using undergraduate students taken from a North Texas university, therefore results may not be generalizable to the whole GLBT population. Younger or older participants may be experiencing different issues surrounding internalized homophobia and may hold different attitudes (more traditional or more modern, etc.) • This study examined the predictive qualities of homonegative attitudes on internalized homophobia in self-identified gay and lesbian college students. Hypothesis • Homonegative attitudes were hypothesized to predict higher levels of internalized homophobia in gay and lesbian college students. Measures Future Research Regression Analysis for Attitudes as Predictors of IH in Lesbian and Bisexual Women Regression Analysis for Attitudes as Predictors of IH in Gay and Bisexual Men • The Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG) is a 20-item measure that evaluates traditional attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Items are ranked on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) on items focused on moral and religious views of homosexuality; such as “I think male homosexuality is a sin” (Herek, 1988). • The Modern Homonegativity Scale (MHS) is a 24-item measure that assesses modern attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. Items are ranked on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) on items focused on political and social issues around homosexuality; such as “Gay men do not have all the rights they need” (Morrison & Morrison, 2002) • The Internalized Homophobia Scale (IHS) is a 20-item measure that determines the extent that pervasive negative attitudes present in gay men. Items are ranked on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) and contains items such as “Homosexuality is deviant” (Wagner, Brondolo & Rabkin, 1996) • The Lesbian Internalized Homophobia Scale (LIHS) is a 39-item measure to determine levels of internalized homophobia in lesbians. Items are ranked on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree) with items such as “I am proud to be a lesbian” (Szymanski & Chung, 2001) • Additional studies should investigate religiosity and traditional attitudes, to determine if religiosity is a predictor of more traditional homonegative attitudes. • Also, future studies should potentially examine the impact of different stages of gay and lesbian identity development on internalized homophobia. References *** p < .001 ** p < .01, *** p < .001 Summary Regression Analysis for Traditional and Modern Attitudes as Predictors of IH in Gay and Bisexual Men Summary Regression Analysis for Traditional and Modern Attitudes as Predictors of IH in Lesbian and Bisexual Women Alexander, R. A. (1987). The relationship between internalized homophobia and depression and low self-esteem in gay men. Dissertation Abstracts International, 47 (11), 3977. Allen, D. J., & Oleson, T. (1999). Shame and internalized homophobia in gay men. Journal of Homosexuality, 37, 33-43. doi:10.1300/J082v37n03_03 Gonsiorek, J. C. (1988). Mental health issues of gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 9, 114-122. Herek, G. M. (1988). Heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: Correlates and gender differences. Journal of Sex Research, 25, 451-477. Miranda, J. & Storms, M. (1989). Psychological adjustment of lesbians and gay men: Special Issue: Gay, lesbian and bisexual issues in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 68, 41-45. Morrison, M. A., & Morrison, T. G. (2002). Development and validation of a scale measuring modern prejudice toward gay men and lesbian women. Journal of Homosexuality, 43, 15-37. doi:10.1300/J082v43n02_02 Shidlo, A. (1994). Internalized homophobia: Conceptual and empirical issues in measurement. In B. Greene & G. M. Herek (Eds.), Lesbian and gay psychology: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 176-205). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication. Szymanski, D. M., & Chung, Y. B. (2001). The lesbian internalized homophobia scale: A rational/theoretical approach. Journal of Homosexuality, 41, 37-52. doi:10.1300/J082v41n02_03 Wagner, G., Brondolo, E., & Rabkin, J. G. (1996). Internalized homophobia in a sample of HIV+ gay men, and its relationship to psychological distress, coping, and illness progression. Journal of Homosexuality, 32, 91-106. doi:10.1300/J082v32n02_06 *** p < .001, *p < .05 *** p < .001, ** p < .01 Contextual Psychology Group Mickey E. White, B.S. - mickey.white@my.unt.edu Amy R. Murrell, Ph.D. - amurrell@unt.edu