Jill M. Chonody

Attitudes Toward Gays and Lesbians: A Latent Class Analysis of University Students

ABSTRACT The profession of social work advocates for civil rights for gay men, lesbians, and bisexual persons. However, a number of social work students and practitioners harbor antigay bias that in prior variable-centered research has been determined to be related to race, relationship status, and age. The purpose of this research was to use latent class analysis (LCA), a person-centered statistical technique, to cluster 394 university student survey responses to the Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gays short-form instrument. The analyses indicated three groups that can be profiled as unbiased, moderately biased, and highly biased. Analysis of variance and multinomial regression verified LCA findings that are consistent with prior research. The importance of selecting appropriate educational approaches to address antigay bias among social work students and practicing social workers is discussed, and recommendations for continued research, including a national random survey of social work students and licensed social workers, are made.

The Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals 30 Years Later: A Psychometric Study

Objective: The authors report a validation study of the Index of Attitudes toward Homosexuals (IAH) to examine its ongoing usefulness. Method: Students (n = 331) completed surveys anonymously. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted and group differences analyzed. Results: Content validity was established conceptually, and preliminary discriminant validity was established statistically. Factor analyses suggest a shortened 19-item measure (α = .92) with two subscales. Convergent validity was established by comparing the scores on the IAH and another measure of antigay bias. Groups differed on sex, age, religiosity, parenthood, race, and childhood urbanicity. Conclusion: The revised IAH demonstrates sound psychometric properties. It can be useful to evaluate antigay bias, it can prompt discussion, and it can be used as an outcome measure in intervention studies.

Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbian Women Among Heterosexual Social Work Faculty

This study reports results from a national Internet-based survey administered anonymously to a cross-section of social work faculty in the United States. Drawn from a sampling frame of 700 accredited or in candidacy schools, data were collected between November 2010 and March 2011. We investigate the role of sex, sexual orientation, race, religious affiliation and beliefs, religiosity, political ideology, sexism, and interest in sexuality/LGBTQ issues. Race, religiosity, political ideology, and sexism are associated with sexual prejudice, which was endorsed among a small percentage (14%) of the sample (n = 303). Outcome scores were not statistically different based on the targets’ sex. Strategies are recommended to reduce sexual prejudice among social work faculty and to increase institutional support for acceptance in the academy.

Social Workers’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults: A Review of the Literature

Ageist attitudes toward older adults have been recognized as barriers to recruiting and training competent social workers. This article provides a systematic review of the literature that focused on social workers’ and social work students’ attitudes toward older adults and working with older adults. The authors sought empirical studies that used an attitudinal measure of ageism with a social work sample, and a total of 20 articles met the criteria. Characteristics of the studies’ participants, methodology, instruments, and results were evaluated. This article discusses the findings and offers implications for future research.

Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage: The Influence of Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting

Legal recognition of same-sex marriage is a controversial social issue. Despite a positive shift in attitudes toward gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, sexual prejudice still exists. Research suggests that religion and religiosity, contact, education, sex, gender ideologies, age, and marital and parental status contribute to biases against sexual minorities. Similar findings have been established for attitudes toward same-sex marriage; however, attitudes toward same-sex marriage have been found to be more complex and resistant to change, suggesting the influence of other factors. One potential influence that has not been investigated is the influence of attitudes toward same-sex parenting on attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Contemporary research indicates that people are still hesitant about same-sex couples raising children, which may influence their attitude about same-sex marriage. Further research to investigate the influence of attitudes toward same-sex parenting on attitudes toward same-sex marriage is warranted, and findings from those studies may be useful in educational settings or promotions for social change.

The LGBQ Microaggressions on Campus Scale: A Scale Development and Validation Study

Although LGBQ students experience blatant forms of heterosexism on college campuses, subtle manifestations such as sexual orientation microaggressions are more common. Similar to overt heterosexism, sexual orientation microaggressions may threaten LGBQ students’ academic development and psychological wellbeing. Limited research exists in this area, in part due to lack of a psychometrically sound instrument measuring the prevalence of LGBQ microaggressions on college campuses. To address this gap, we created and tested the LGBQ Microaggressions on College Campuses Scale. Two correlated subscales were generated: Interpersonal LGBQ Microaggressions and Environmental LGBQ Microaggressions. The results indicated that the subscales demonstrate strong reliability and validity.

Exploring the Formal Supports Used by People Bereaved Through Suicide: A Qualitative Study

Approximately seven Australians take their own lives every day (Mendoza & Rosenberg, 2010), which means that thousands of survivors will require support for their unique grief each year. This study seeks to better understand the personal lived experiences of people bereaved by suicide by exploring their use of formal supports and identifying any unmet needs. In this phenomenological study, 14 individuals bereaved by suicide were interviewed. Thematic analysis of the data identified two major themes supports in the immediate aftermath and ongoing supports. Survivors were inconsistently connected with service providers or provided with information regarding available services. The response of first responders and other professionals influenced the bereavement journey for suicide survivors, and the participants’ lived experience ranged from compassionate to cold. Continuing study into postvention is critical to ensure that available supports can meet the needs of those grieving after a suicide. Such efforts may help avert complications associated with the suicide of a loved one.

The State of the Social Work Profession: A Systematic Review of the Literature on Antigay Bias

Antigay bias delimits the rights of sexual minorities. Given that the social work profession promotes social justice values, understanding the extent to which antigay bias exists within the profession is important. Two social work specific populations were included in this systematic literature review to capture the breadth of the profession: professionals and students. A total of 31 empirical articles met our inclusion criteria. Across the samples, social workers and students were found to have mostly positive attitudes toward gays and lesbians. The sociodemographic factors used to explain the variance in attitudes are reported, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Information about human sexuality: sources, satisfaction, and perceived knowledge among college students

This study explored how 333 undergraduate and graduate students attending a large university in the southeastern USA learned about sex, their satisfaction with how they learned about sex, and their self-perceived knowledge before and after taking a human sexuality course. An anonymous, voluntary survey was administered to students in the first and last sessions of human sexuality classes each semester from fall 2004 until spring 2006. Standardized measures included how students learned about sex, satisfaction with ways they learned about sex, barriers to parent–child discussions, and self-perceived knowledge about sex. Although 67% of students indicated parents should be instrumental in sex education, only 15% indicated parents as a primary source. Thirty-seven percent reported some level of dissatisfaction with how they learned about sex. Self-perceived knowledge increased significantly following the course. College courses addressing sexuality as integral to human development should complement college programming that focuses on risk reduction for sexually transmitted diseases/infections, sexual assault, and unintended pregnancy.

Predicting Social Work Students’ Interest in Gerontology: Results From an International Sample

The need for social workers with a specialization in gerontology has become a global priority. The purpose of this study was to explore social work students’ interest in gerontology. This cross-sectional survey was completed by 1,042 students from the United States, England, and Australia, and only 5.4% of the sample indicated an interest in gerontology. Results of the logistic regression found that personal aging beliefs and the frequency of time spent with an older adult were significant in explaining gerontological interest. The infusion of aging content may facilitate further advancement in the field, but additional strategies may also be needed.