Teach Your Children Well: A Mixed-method Exploration of the Link between Parent and Peer Communication Regarding Homosexuality and Bisexuality and Individual Attitudes Toward Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals.

Abstract

The literature on attitudes toward lesbians, gays, and bisexuals has focused on the role of various demographic factors in predicting attitudes. At the same time, much of the literature on sexual socialization has attempted to document the contribution of formative communications and experiences to individuals’ current sexual attitudes. This dissertation bridges both bodies of literature by examining the contribution of the early messages that individuals received regarding homosexuality to their current attitudes toward lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Study 1 was based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 21 emerging adults (ages 18-24) from a large public Midwestern university. The primary goal of the study was to explore the content of the messages that participants received from multiple sources (parents, peers, community members) about homosexuality and bisexuality. Findings revealed that participants received few messages about bisexuality but numerous messages regarding the nature of homosexuality, and concerning the acceptance or disapproval of homosexuality within their close social networks (peers and family) and within the broader society. Study 2 was quantitative study based on 429 emerging adults (55% female) from a large public Midwestern university. The study assessed emerging adults’ exposure to messages about homosexuality from their parents and peers. Male sources provided more negative messages about homosexuality than did female sources, and female sources provided more positive messages than did male sources. The study also found that multiple demographic factors, such as gender, age, race, religious service attendance, country of upbringing, and parent education level, were correlated with levels and types of messages communicated. Study 3 assessed the contribution of early messages about homosexuality to current attitudes about lesbians, gays, and bisexuals among heterosexual emerging adults. The study was based on data from 410 heterosexual participants from Study 2. Positive peer messages were a key factor in emerging adults’ later attitudes. Exposure to positive messages from peers was associated with greater comfort with lesbians, gays, and bisexuals and stronger endorsement of equal rights for lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Positive peer messages were also associated with less hostility toward lesbians, gays, and bisexuals.