Attitudes of female and male nursing students towards homosexuality

A quantitative descriptive research

Authors

  • Rebeka Lekše Artros d. o. o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6981-5668
  • Ana Marija Capuder General hospital Izola, Emergency Center, Polje 40, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
  • Aleš Vehar Zavod Fitlab, Partizanska ulica 8A, 1370 Logatec, Slovenia
  • Katja Vehar Zavod Fitlab, Partizanska ulica 8A, 1370 Logatec, Slovenia
  • Sabina Ličen University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8795-7985

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2022.56.2.3094

Keywords:

attitude, nursing education, homosexuality, cultural competence, nursing

Abstract

Introduction: Prejudice and discrimination against sexual minorities remain a widespread problem despite social  changes. Homosexual individuals are exposed to strong negativism and violence, which has a detrimental effect on the psychological, physical and social health and well-being of individuals and the community. The purpose of the study was to research the attitudes of female and male nursing students towards homosexuality.
Methods: A non-experimental quantitative descriptive research method was used. The research was conducted in December 2020 with a survey technique. The  convenience sample included 114 undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students. Data were collected through the online Slovenian version of the questionnaire
"Index of Attitudes towards Homosexuals". The internal consistency of the questionnaire was 0.94.
Results: Half (56.1%) of the respondents know that an individual's gender identity characterizes their culture and  is, therefore, a component of cultural competencies. 74.6% of them believe that they did not gain enough knowledge about this topic during their studies. The majority (86.8%) of students know someone who is gay. There are statistically significant differences in attitudes towards homosexuality among students, based on  demographic and other data (p < 0.05). The most positive attitude  towards homosexuality was shown by atheists, women, students aged 21 to 30 and second-year undergraduate students.
Discussion and conclusion: Nursing students have a positive attitude towards homosexuality. It is necessary to include knowledge of cultural competencies in the study  course.

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References

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Published

2022-06-21

How to Cite

Lekše, R., Capuder, A. M. ., Vehar, A. ., Vehar, K. ., & Ličen, S. (2022). Attitudes of female and male nursing students towards homosexuality: A quantitative descriptive research. Slovenian Nursing Review, 56(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2022.56.2.3094

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Original scientific article

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