Predictors of homonegativity in a sample of Lebanese students -

Abstract

Homonegativity has been investigated frequently in the literature concerned with lesbians and gay men. Homonegativity is defined as the negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. Predictors of such attitudes that have been examined most often include contact with lesbians and gay men, religiosity, gender and gender role beliefs, and, to a lesser extent, openness. In an attempt to address some of the limitations in the literature, such as not controlling for social desirability in most studies, and to offer what seems to be the first examination of attitudes towards lesbians and gay men in Lebanon, this study investigated the predictors of homonegativity in a holistic manner. The holistic framework included social variables (contact with lesbians and gay men), gender variables (gender, gender role beliefs), faith variables (private religious practice, public religious practice, and religious-spiritual experiences), individual-difference variables (openness), and variables that might bias the model (age, year at university, household income). The final sample included 281 participants recruited from the Psychology Research Pool. An exploratory factor analysis indicated that the dimensions of religiosity formed one coherent construct in this sample, and that contact also formed one construct. Findings indicated that contact with lesbians and gay men to be a negative predictor of homonegativity, and traditional gender role beliefs, and overall religiosity to be positive predictors of homonegativity. Being male, private religious practice, public religious practice, religious-spiritual experiences were positive correlates of homonegativity, and openness and household income were negative correlates of homonegativity. Contrary to our expectations age, and year at university were neither correlates nor predictors of homonegativity. The interpretations of the findings and the limitations of the study are further discussed.