Journal of Nursing Education, 2013;52(4):219–227
Abstract
Homosexual populations have unique and specific cultures, psychosocial characteristics, health issues, and health care disparities that are currently ignored or insufficiently addressed in nursing education. To understand the reasons for these omissions, this descriptive study explores the attitudes of nurse educators (N = 1,282) toward homosexuality and the extent to which demographic, educational, and occupational factors are related to their attitudes. Responding to a direct online survey solicitation, self-selected participants completed the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG) and a supplementary data questionnaire. Results indicate that the majority of participants have positive attitudes toward homosexuality, which is consistent with prior findings. Most participants believe it is important to teach nursing students about homosexuality, but they consider themselves unprepared to teach this content. Effects of various demographic and occupational factors on participants’ ATLG scores and implications of the findings for nursing education and nursing health care policy are discussed. [J Nurs Educ. 2013;52(4):219–227.]
- Ajzen I. (1991). The theory of reasoned behavior and perceived behavioral control. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211
10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Ajzen I., Fishbein M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. > Google Scholar
- American Academy of Nursing. (2012). Position statement on health care for sexual minority and gender-diverse populations. Retrieved from http://www.aannet.org/assets/lgbtq%20overachstatement%20final%207%2011%2012.pdf > Google Scholar
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). Tool kit of resources for cultural competence education for baccalaureate nurses. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/toolkit.pdf > Google Scholar
- Bowers R., Plummer D., McCann P., McConaghy C., Irwin L. (2006). How we manage sexual and gender diversity in the public health system: A research report. New South Wales, Sydney, Australia: Department of Health. > Google Scholar
- Brennan A.M., Barnsteiner J., Saintz M.L., Cotter V.T., Everett J. (2012). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or intersexed content for nursing curricula. Journal of Professional Nursing, 28, 96–104
10.1016/j.profnurs.2011.11.004 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Dinkel S., Patzel B., McGuire M.J., Rolfs E., Purcell K. (2007). Measures of homophobia among nursing students and faculty: A midwestern perspective. International Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 4(1), Article 24. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Douglas Scott S., Pringle A., Lumsdaine C. (2004). Sexual exclusion: Homophobia and health inequalities: A review. UK Gay Men’s Health Network. Retrieved from http://www.glhv.org.au/files/gmhn_report.pdf > Google Scholar
- Eliason M.J. (1993). Cultural diversity in nursing care: The lesbian, gay, or bisexual client. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 5(1), 14–20
10.1177/104365969300500103 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Eliason M.J. (1998). Correlates of prejudice in nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 37, 27–29. > LinkGoogle Scholar
- Eliason M.J., Dibble S., DeJoseph J. (2010). Nursing’s silence on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues: The need for emancipatory efforts. ANS. Advances in Nursing Science, 33, 206–218. > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Eliason M.J., Raheim S. (2000). Experiences and comfort with culturally diverse groups in undergraduate pre-nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 39, 161–165. > LinkGoogle Scholar
- Erlen J.A., Riley T.A., Sereika S.M. (1999). Psychometric properties of the Index of Homophobia Scale in registered nurses. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 7, 117–133. > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Fang D., Hu G.D. (2011). 2010–2011 salaries of instructional and administrative nursing faculty in baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing. Washington, DC: American Association of Colleges of Nursing. > Google Scholar
- Finlay B., Walther C.S. (2003). The relation of religious affiliation, service attendance, and other factors to homophobic attitudes among university students. Review of Religious Research, 44, 370–393
10.2307/3512216 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Fishbein M., Ajzen I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. > Google Scholar
- Fogel S.C. (2005). Identifying facilitators and barriers to disclosure of sexual identity to health care providers. The Kansas Nurse, 80(9), 1–3. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Gates G.J. (2011). How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender? Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/how-many-people-are-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender/ > Google Scholar
- Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. (2002). MSM: Clinician’s guide to incorporating sexual risk assessment in routine visits. Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/syphilis/eliminationproject/msmassessment.pdf > Google Scholar
- Gee R. (2006). Primary care health issues among men who have sex with men. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 18, 144–153
10.1111/j.1745-7599.2006.00117.x . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Gray D.P., Kramer M., Minick P., McGehee L., Thomas D., Greiner D. (1996). Heterosexism in nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 35, 204–210. > LinkGoogle Scholar
- Herek G.M. (1986). On heterosexual masculinity: Some psychical consequences of the social construction of gender and sexuality. American Behavioral Scientist, 29, 563–577
10.1177/000276486029005005 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M. (1987a). Can functions be measured? A new perspective on the functional approach to attitudes. Social Psychological Quarterly, 50, 285–303
10.2307/2786814 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M. (1987b). Religious orientation and prejudice: A comparison of racial and sexual attitudes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 13, 34–44
10.1177/0146167287131003 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M. (1988). Heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: Correlates and gender differences. The Journal of Sex Research, 25, 451–477
10.1080/00224498809551476 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M. (1994). Assessing heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: A review of empirical research with the ATLG scale. In (Eds.). Lesbian and gay psychology: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 206–228). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. > Google Scholar
- Herek G.M. (1998). Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men (ATLG) scale. In (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures (pp. 392–394). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. > Google Scholar
- Herek G.M. (2000). Sexual prejudice and gender: Do heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men differ?Journal of Social Issues, 56, 251–266
10.1111/0022-4537.00164 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M., Capitanio J.P. (1995). Black heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men in the United States. The Journal of Sex Research, 32, 95–105
10.1080/00224499509551780 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M., Capitanio J.P. (1996). “Some of my best friends”: Intergroup contact, concealable stigma, and heterosexuals’ attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 412–424
10.1177/0146167296224007 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M., Glunt E.K. (1991). AIDS-related attitudes in the United States: A preliminary conceptualization. The Journal of Sex Research, 28, 99–123
10.1080/00224499109551597 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Herek G.M., Glunt E.K. (1993). Interpersonal contact and heterosexuals’ attitudes toward gay men: Results from a national survey. Journal of Sex Research, 30, 239–244
10.1080/00224499309551707 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Institute of Medicine, Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Issues and Research Gaps and Opportunities, Board on the Health of Select Populations. (2011). The health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: Building a foundation for better understanding. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Retrieved from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13128 > Google Scholar
- Irwin L. (2007). Homophobia and heterosexism: Implications for nursing and nursing practice. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(1), 70–76. > Google Scholar
- Keepnews D.M. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health issues and nursing: Moving toward an agenda. ANS. Advances in Nursing Science, 34, 163–170. > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Lottes I.L., Kuriloff P.J. (1992). The effects of gender, race, religion, and political orientation on the sex role attitudes of college freshmen. Adolescence, 27, 675–688. > MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Love P., Talbot D. (1999). Defining spiritual development: A missing consideration for student affairs. NASPA Journal, 37, 361–375. > CrossrefGoogle Scholar
- Mayer K.H., Bradford J.B., Makadon H.J., Stall R., Goldhammer H., Landers S. (2008). Sexual and gender minority health: What we know and what needs to be done. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 989–995
10.2105/AJPH.2007.127811 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Meyer I.H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674–697
10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Morrissey M. (1996). Attitudes of practitioners to lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. British Journal of Nursing, 5, 980–982. > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar
- Mueller C.W., Cerny J.E., Amundson M.J., Waldron J.A. (1992). Nursing faculty and students’ attitudes regarding HIV. Journal of Nursing Education, 31, 273–279. > LinkGoogle Scholar
- National Student Nurses Association. (2010). In support of increasing culturally competent education about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LBGT) individuals. Retrieved from http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/Final%20Resolutions%202010%20_11.pdf > Google Scholar
- Neville S., Henrickson M. (2006). Perceptions of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of primary healthcare services. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 55, 407–415
10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03944.x . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Nunnally J.C., Bernstein I.H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. > Google Scholar
- Patterson C.J. (2005). Lesbian and gay parents and their children: Summary of research findings. In (Ed.), Lesbian and gay parenting (pp. 5–22). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. > Google Scholar
- Randall C.E. (1989). Lesbian phobia among BSN educators: A survey. Journal of Nursing Education, 28, 302–306. > LinkGoogle Scholar
- Rondahl G. (2005). Heteronormativity in a nursing context: Attitudes toward homosexuality and experiences of lesbians and gay men (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Uppsala University, Sweden. > Google Scholar
- Rondahl G. (2009). Students inadequate knowledge about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 6(1), Article 11.
10.2202/1548-923X.1718 > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Röndahl G., Innala S., Carlsson M. (2004). Nurses’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Journal of Advanced Nursing 47, 386–392
10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03116.x . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Rosario M., Schrimshaw E.W., Hunter J., Braun L. (2006). Sexual identity development among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: Consistency and change over time. The Journal of Sex Research, 48, 46–58
10.1080/00224490609552298 . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Savin-Williams R.C., Ream G.L. (2007). Prevalence and stability of sexual orientation components during adolescence and young adulthood. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 385–394
10.1007/s10508-006-9088-5 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Schlub S.M., Martsolf D.S. (1999). Orthodox Christian beliefs and homophobia in baccalaureate nursing students. Nursing Forum, 34(2), 15–22
10.1111/j.1744-6198.1999.tb00982.x . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Smith G.B. (1993). Homophobia and attitudes toward gay men and lesbians by psychiatric nurses. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 7, 377–384
10.1016/0883-9417(93)90057-4 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar - Tabachnick B.G., Fidell L.S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Harper Collins. > Google Scholar
- Tate F.B., Longo D.A. (2004). Homophobia: A challenge for psychosocial nursing. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 42(8), 26–33. > LinkGoogle Scholar
- Wells J.W. (1989). Teaching about gay and lesbian sexual and affectional orientation using explicit films to reduce homophobia. The Journal of Humanistic Education and Development, 28, 18–34
10.1002/j.2164-4683.1989.tb00179.x . > CrossrefGoogle Scholar - Wills G., Crawford R. (2000). Attitudes toward homosexuality in Shreveport-Bossier City, Lousiana. Journal of Homosexuality, 38, 97–116
10.1300/J082v38n03_06 . > Crossref MedlineGoogle Scholar
