ERIC Number: EJ999256
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Mar
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0047-2891
EISSN: N/A
Predicting Homophobic Behavior among Heterosexual Youth: Domain General and Sexual Orientation-Specific Factors at the Individual and Contextual Level
Poteat, V. Paul; DiGiovanni, Craig D.; Scheer, Jillian R.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, v42 n3 p351-362 Mar 2013
As a form of bias-based harassment, homophobic behavior remains prominent in schools. Yet, little attention has been given to factors that underlie it, aside from bullying and sexual prejudice. Thus, we examined multiple domain general (empathy, perspective-taking, classroom respect norms) and sexual orientation-specific factors (sexual orientation identity importance, number of sexual minority friends, parents' sexual minority attitudes, media messages). We documented support for a model in which these sets of factors converged to predict homophobic behavior, mediated through bullying and prejudice, among 581 students in grades 9-12 (55 % female). The structural equation model indicated that, with the exception of media messages, these additional factors predicted levels of prejudice and bullying, which in turn predicted the likelihood of students to engage in homophobic behavior. These findings highlight the importance of addressing multiple interrelated factors in efforts to reduce bullying, prejudice, and discrimination among youth.
Descriptors: Bullying, Homosexuality, Empathy, Structural Equation Models, Fear, Social Bias, Social Attitudes, Predictor Variables, Sexual Orientation, Perspective Taking, Interpersonal Relationship, Classroom Environment, Friendship, Peer Influence, Parent Influence, Parent Attitudes, Mass Media Effects, High School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12; Grade 9; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A