University students' attitudes toward same-sex parenting and gay and lesbian rights in Portugal

J Homosex. 2014;61(12):1667-86. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2014.951253.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore university students' attitudes toward same-sex parenting and toward gay and lesbian rights. A total of 292 participants, aged between 18 and 27 (M = 21) responded to a questionnaire measuring attitudes toward parenting by gay men and lesbians, gay and lesbian rights, and beliefs about the etiology of homosexuality. Results revealed that the majority of students were against gay and lesbian parenting, gay and lesbian equal rights, and believed that homosexuality has a social/environmental basis. It was found that sexual prejudice is highly prevalent in Portuguese university students, and implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: attitudes; etiology; gay and lesbian rights; homonegativity; homosexuality; same-sex parenting; university students.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude*
  • Civil Rights / psychology*
  • Female
  • Homophobia / psychology
  • Homophobia / statistics & numerical data
  • Homosexuality, Female*
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parenting*
  • Portugal / epidemiology
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Universities
  • Young Adult