A scale on beliefs about children's adjustment in same-sex families: reliability and validity

J Homosex. 2012;59(9):1273-88. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2012.720505.

Abstract

In this study, we developed a new instrument named Scale Beliefs about Children's Adjustment on Same-Sex Families (SBCASSF). The scale was developed to assess of the adults' beliefs about negative impacts on children who are raised by same-sex parents. An initial pool of 95 items was generated by the authors based on a review of the literature on homophobia and feedback from several focus groups. Research findings, based on a sample of 212 university students (mean age 22 years, SD = 8.28), supported the reliability and validity of the scale. The final versions of the SBCASSF included items reflecting the following two factors: individual opposition (α = .87) and normative opposition (α = .88). Convergent validity of the scale is demonstrated by predictable correlations with beliefs about the cause of same-sex sexual orientation and the support for gay and lesbian rights. Our study reveals a strong positive association between high scores on SBCASSF and beliefs that the origin of same-sex sexual orientation is learned and opposition to gay and lesbian rights.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Civil Rights
  • Culture*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Homophobia / psychology*
  • Homosexuality, Female / psychology*
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Personality Development
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Social Stigma
  • Students / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Young Adult