Psychology Graduate Students' Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men

Abstract

The extant literature concerning attitudes toward gay men and lesbians was reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the attitudes of mental health professionals. Seventy graduate students in a variety of psychology-related areas were surveyed about their attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Findings from hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that after controlling for socially desirable responding, the only variable to predict negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians was endorsement of traditional gender roles. The results of this investigation were placed within a theoretical framework and then implications for training future mental health practitioners were discussed.

Key Words:

• Antigay prejudice
• attitudes
• gay men
• homonegativity
• homosexuality
• heterosexism
• lesbians
• training