Jorge Gato

Attitudes Toward Adoption by Same-Sex Couples: Effects of Gender of the Participant, Sexual Orientation of the Couple, and Gender of the Child

ABSTRACT The present study aims to characterize attitudes toward adoption by same-sex couples in a sample of Portuguese university students. Using a quasi-experimental design, participants (N = 500) were presented a vignette describing a couple adopting a child, manipulating couple sexual orientation and child gender. After reading the vignette, participants rated three different aspects of parental competence of the prospective parents (stability, abuse, and parental aptitude) and four different aspects of the future development of the adopted child (psychosocial adjustment, victimization, psychological disturbance, and normative sexuality). MANOVAs and follow-up ANOVAs were conducted in order to analyze the data. Participants expressed a heteronormative view of parenting, rating better the parental competence and child development of heterosexual, than of lesbian and gay parented families; however, they did not identify differences between lesbian and gay couples. Men expressed more negative attitudes than their female counterparts. Both men and women considered that a boy adopted by a gay couple would be less likely to have a normative sexuality than a girl in the same circumstances. By disentangling the effects of sexual orientation of prospective parents, gender of the adopted child, and gender of the participant, results of this study clearly contribute to a deeper understanding of attitudes toward lesbian and gay parent families. The role of gender is evident and its effect is explained taking into account sociological and psychological literature that connects gender, attitudes toward homo- sexuality, and adherence to hegemonic masculinity.

Validação e Adaptação Transcultural da Escala Multidimensional de Atitudes Face a Lésbicas e a Gays

In this work two studies regarding the validation and transcultural adaptation of the Multidimensional Scale of Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men (EMAFLG; Gato, Fontaine, & Carneiro, 2012) were presented. The instrument is composed by 27 items distributed in four dimensions: Rejection of Proximity, Pathologization of Homosexuality, Modern Heterosexism, and Support. In the first study, the structure was tested in a sample of Portuguese university students (N = 425) using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Most of the items presented high and significant factor loadings and the model showed a reasonable global fit (χ2/gl= 2.35; CFI= .93; RMSEA= .056; SRMR= .04). The indicators of convergent and discriminant validity were also satisfactory, and the construct validity of the instrument was established. In the second study, with the goal of verifying to what extent the EMAFLG had an equivalent meaning in another Portuguese-speaking country, its invariance was tested through Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis, using a sample of Brazilian university students (N= 420). Results suggested the applicability of the instrument in samples of university students from both countries.

Predicting Portuguese Psychology Students' Attitudes Toward the Psychological Development of Children Adopted by Lesbians and Gay Men.

ABSTRACT The present study seeks to ascertain the attitudes of Portuguese psychology students (future psychologists) toward the development of children adopted by lesbian and gay parents. Each participant (N = 182) read a vignette describing an adoption of a child by lesbian and gay persons. After reading the vignette, participants rated four different aspects of the future development of the adopted child (psychosocial adjustment, victimization, psychological disturbance, and normative sexuality). Furthermore, participants were asked about their gender, interpersonal contact with lesbians and gay men, gender role attitudes, and attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Future psychologists’ attitudes toward the developmental outcomes of children adopted by lesbians and gay men were associated with negative attitudes toward non-heterosexuals, which in turn correlated to interpersonal contact with lesbians and gay men and adherence to gender conservative values. These results clearly highlight the central role of social attitudes and the need for cultural competence training of future psychologists that encourages interpersonal contact with non-heterosexuals and discourages traditional gender roles and negative attitudes toward lesbian and gay men.

Beyond Comparison: New Trends in Research With Families with GLB Members in Europe

We credit the expression “beyond comparison” for the title of this special issue to Clarke, Ellis, Peel, and Riggs (2010). These authors have suggested that it is time to abandon the “proving similarity” agenda that has characterized most research with families with lesbian or gay parents. In fact, decades of comparative research have already provided much evidence of similarities between heterosexualand gay/lesbian-parented families (GLPFs) (for updated literature reviews, see Fedewa, Black, & Ahn, 2015; Schneider & Vecho, 2015). Although some of these studies were and still are instrumental in challenging negative assumptions about same-sex families, research can now move beyond this classical comparative paradigm. The diversity of families with GLB members is ready to be fully acknowledged and explored on its own terms. Moreover, psychological processes and specific challenges these families must contend with, such as social discrimination, can increasingly be addressed. This special issue of the Journal of GLBT Family Studies comprises five articles by researchers from four European countries (the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, and Italy) who have used different theoretical frameworks and research methodologies, and have moved beyond a comparative approach. Covered topics comprise the identity of bisexual mothers, attitudes toward same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption, discrimination of GLB youngsters, and the narratives of lesbian mothers. Also included is a review of the book Modern Families: Parents and Children in New Family Forms, by Susan Golombok, an acknowledged key researcher in the field of nontraditional families. As stated before, some authors have claimed the specificity of GLPFs, noting some limitations of the comparative approach. The vast majority of these criticisms originate from areas such as critical psychology or queer studies. Research that has relied on comparative methodologies and focused on desirable psychological outcomes has even been accused of strengthening the existing heteronormativity. According to some authors (e.g., Clarke, 2002), treating negative assumptions about gayand lesbian-parented families as worthy of investigation, particularly with respect to gender and sexuality variables, involuntarily validated these biases.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale in Brazil and Portugal

This study aims to evaluate the construct validity, internal consistency and cross-cultural invariance of the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale-Portuguese version (GSE) in a Brazilian and Portuguese sample. The GSE is composed of 10 items, designed to parsimoniously and comprehensively assess self-efficacy beliefs to deal with a wide range of stress-inducing situations. The construct validity (factorial, convergent and discriminant) and internal consistency of the instrument were established within a sample of 304 Portuguese adolescents (study 1) and a sample of 477 Brazilian adolescents (study 2). Then, the invariance of the GSE was tested in a sample of Brazilian adolescents (study 3), using Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA). In the first two studies, the construct validity of the GSE was demonstrated in its three components and the reliability of the scales was confirmed based on satisfactory levels of internal consistency. In the third study, the cross-cultural invariance of the instrument was established. This work adds to previous research on generalized self-efficacy instruments, with good psychometric qualities. Moreover, comparisons can now be made with confidence using this instrument among adolescent samples from Portugal and Brazil.

Validação e adaptação transcultural da Escala Multidimensional de Atitudes Face a Lésbicas e a Gays = Validation and transcultural adaptation of the Multidimensional Scale of Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gay Men

In this work two studies regarding the validation and transcultural adaptation of the Multidimensional Scale of Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men (EMAFLG; Gato, Fontaine, & Carneiro, 2012) were presented. The instrument is composed by 27 items distributed in four dimensions: Rejection of Proximity, Pathologization of Homosexuality, Modern Heterosexism, and Support. In the first study, the structure was tested in a sample of Portuguese university students (N = 425) using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Most of the items presented high and significant factor loadings and the model showed a reasonable global fit (χ2/gl= 2.35; CFI= .93; RMSEA= .056; SRMR= .04). The indicators of convergent and discriminant validity were also satisfactory, and the construct validity of the instrument was established. In the second study, with the goal of verifying to what extent the EMAFLG had an equivalent meaning in another Portuguese-speaking country, its invariance was tested through Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis, using a sample of Brazilian university students (N= 420). Results suggested the applicability of the instrument in samples of university students from both countries.

HOMOPARENTALIDADE NO MASCULINO: UMA REVISÃO DA LITERATURA

Pesquisas tem identificado semelhancas entre a heteroparentalidade e a homoparentalidade, tanto no que diz respeito as praticas parentais, como no que se relaciona com o desenvolvimento psicossocial das criancas e jovens. Contudo, comparativamente com o volume de investigacao com maes lesbicas, os estudos com familias homoparentais masculinas sao ainda minoritarios. O objetivo deste trabalho foi, assim, o de efetuar uma revisao critica da literatura sobre homoparentalidade no masculino. Em primeiro lugar, refletimos acerca dos preconceitos particulares contra a parentalidade gay. Em segundo lugar, revimos os principais estudos com familias homoparentais masculinas, publicados entre 1979 e 2011. Os resultados das referidas pesquisas foram organizados em torno de cinco tematicas: atitudes face a parentalidade, identidade sexual, relacao com o contexto, competencia parental e qualidade/dinâmica das relacoes familiares, e desenvolvimento psicossocial das criancas e jovens. Por ultimo, destacamos algumas limitacoes e implicacoes para o futuro da investigacao revista.

Prospective parenting: sexual identity and intercultural trajectories

Abstract This study explored the impact of sexual identity on attitudes towards parenthood among childless individuals from Portugal and the United Kingdom (UK). Compared to heterosexuals, lesbians, gay men and bisexuals were less likely to: desire and intend to have children, be concerned about the prospect of childlessness or perceive children as a source of enrichment. They also anticipated more stigma as parents than did heterosexuals. Compared to UK participants, all Portuguese participants, independent of sexual identity, desired and intended more to have children, were more concerned about childlessness, reported higher levels of parental commitment, anticipated less stigma and expected more social support as parents. Portuguese lesbian, gay and bisexual participants expressed greater desire to have children than did those in the UK. Only in the UK did lesbian, gay and bisexual participants perceive children less as a source of enrichment than did heterosexuals and anticipate negative costs associated with parenting. We concluded that the intersectional influence of different cultural climates on parenting aspirations should be taken into account in future research alongside sexual identity.

Homofobia Transatlântica: Preconceito contra Lésbicas e Gays em Portugal e no Brasil

In this study we compared prejudice against lesbians and gay men in Portugal and Brazil, in a sample of university students (N = 844). Two forms of prejudice were assessed: one with a more traditional nature (pathologization of homosexuality) and a more contemporary one (modern heterosexism). Because these prejudices are not independent of gender, we explored the relation with this variable. No differencesIn this study we compared prejudice against lesbians and gay men in Portugal and Brazil, in a sample of university students (N = 844). Two forms of prejudice were assessed: one with a more traditional nature (pathologization of homosexuality) and a more contemporary one (modern heterosexism). Because these prejudices are not independent of gender, we explored the relation with this variable. No differences 1 Enderço para correspondência: Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal, E-mail: jorgegato@fpce.up.pt Este trabalho foi fi nanciado por uma bolsa de doutoramento atribuída pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/41752/2007). Este trabalho foi anteriormente publicado na revista Passages de Paris e o autor obteve autorização do corpo editorial da mesma, para submissão a revista científi ca indexada e com revisão por pares. Gato, J., Fontaine, A. M., Leme, V. B. R., Leme, A. A. 702 were found between the two countries in both variables. Portuguese and Brazilian participants evidenced signifi cantly higher levels of modern heterosexism than of pathologization of homosexuality. As far as the gender of participants is concerned, men scored higher than their female counterparts in both types of prejudice. Results of this study draw attention to the need of homophobia reducing interventions. Educational and psychosocial agents, particularly those who work in university environments should be especially attentive both to modern expressions of prejudice against lesbians and gay men, and to its major prevalence in the male population.

Transatlantic homophobia: prejudice against lesbians and gay men in Portugal and Brazil

In this study we compared prejudice against lesbians and gay men in Portugal and Brazil, in a sample of university students (N = 844). Two forms of prejudice were assessed: one with a more traditional nature (pathologization of homosexuality) and a more contemporary one (modern heterosexism). Because these prejudices are not independent of gender, we explored the relation with this variable. No differencesIn this study we compared prejudice against lesbians and gay men in Portugal and Brazil, in a sample of university students (N = 844). Two forms of prejudice were assessed: one with a more traditional nature (pathologization of homosexuality) and a more contemporary one (modern heterosexism). Because these prejudices are not independent of gender, we explored the relation with this variable. No differences 1 Enderço para correspondência: Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal, E-mail: jorgegato@fpce.up.pt Este trabalho foi fi nanciado por uma bolsa de doutoramento atribuída pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/41752/2007). Este trabalho foi anteriormente publicado na revista Passages de Paris e o autor obteve autorização do corpo editorial da mesma, para submissão a revista científi ca indexada e com revisão por pares. Gato, J., Fontaine, A. M., Leme, V. B. R., Leme, A. A. 702 were found between the two countries in both variables. Portuguese and Brazilian participants evidenced signifi cantly higher levels of modern heterosexism than of pathologization of homosexuality. As far as the gender of participants is concerned, men scored higher than their female counterparts in both types of prejudice. Results of this study draw attention to the need of homophobia reducing interventions. Educational and psychosocial agents, particularly those who work in university environments should be especially attentive both to modern expressions of prejudice against lesbians and gay men, and to its major prevalence in the male population.