Impact of Family Environment on Future Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between dimensions of functioning in the family of origin of graduate students in helping profession programs and their attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. One hundred forty-three participants completed the Family Environment Scale (FES-R: Moos & Moos, 1986), the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men scale (ATLG: Herek, 1994), and demographic questions. Results suggest that three family dimensions (conflict, intellectual-cultural orientation, and moral-religious emphasis) significantly predicted attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. The results also revealed that younger students held more negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay men than their older peers. Implications for educators, researchers, and practitioners are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• family of origin
• family environment
• anti-gay attitudes
• gays and lesbians
• attitudes
• homosexuality
• homosexuals
• counselors
• mental health