Predicting the Support of Same-Sex Relationship Rights Among Social Work Students

Abstract

Since the 1980s, the United States has seen several instances of legislative action on the topic of same-sex marriages and civil unions. As some studies explored public reactions to such laws, the perspectives of social workers and social work students have mostly been ignored. In addressing part of this oversight, this paper looks at the approval of same-sex relationship rights among 571 heterosexual social work students enrolled in 12 U.S. colleges. In having an explanatory scope, the article focuses a multivariate analysis of potential antecedents to these policy preferences. Consistent with attribution theory, the strongest associations were located in the belief that sexual orientations are voluntary. In addition, students who were surrounded by homophobic parents and peers, or had little contact with gays or lesbians, were against the expansion of broader gay and lesbian relationship rights. Conversely, individuals who ignored traditional gender roles and authoritarian principles, as well as did not attend regular religious services, were more amiable to extending the relationship rights of sexual minorities.

KEYWORDS:

• attitudes toward lesbians and gay men
• same-sex relationships
• undergraduate social work students
• attribution theory
• religion

Notes

∗p < .05

∗∗p < .01

∗∗∗p < .001.