Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Among African American College Students

Purpose

Heterosexual attitudes toward homosexuality have been shown to reflect cultural influences associated with gender, race/ethnicity, religious attendance, and age. Such influences may differ between ethnic and racial groups and change over time within such groups. The purpose of this investigation was to examine heterosexual attitudes toward homosexuality within a sample of African American college students to determine what factors influence such attitudes within this group.

Methods

Responses to the Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Scale (Larsen, 1980) and a demographic questionnaire were obtained from 204 African American students attending an historical black university in the southeastern United States. Data were entered into a personal computer and analyzed utilizing SAS System.

Analysis/Results

Significant differences were observed in heterosexual attitudes toward homosexuality by gender (t = -4.28, p < .01), age (F = 3.19, p < .05) and religious attendance (F = 27.42, p < .01). Females held positive attitudes whereas males' attitudes were slightly negative. Females between ages 18-22 years held more positive attitudes than older females. Those not reporting religious attendance held more positive attitudes than those attending regularly.

Conclusions

These results indicate that gender, age, and religious attendance continue to have strong influence on heterosexual attitudes toward homosexuality among African American college students.