Chung, Ashley
(2017)
Exploring the relationship between being a parent and the acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Due to existing homophobic discrimination and stigma, sexual and gender minorities suffer disproportionately from health disparities as compared to their heterosexual peers. Research shows that social determinants of health are strong indicators for health outcomes, specifically citing positive influences from stability in social and family support. Yet lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals risk damaging relationships with their parents when disclosing their sexuality. This study aimed to understand the relationship between parental status and acceptance of the LGBT community. It also assessed whether there was an interaction effect of gender (of an individual – non-parent or parent) with parental status that would affect overall LGBT acceptance. We hypothesized that there was an interaction between gender and parental status and that female parents were the most accepting of the LGBT community as compared with male or female non-parents and male parents. Using data from Acceptance Journeys, a social marketing campaign intended to increase LGBT awareness and decrease LGBT stigma, this study used logistic regressions to model the relationship between parental status and gender on LGBT acceptance. Results showed the odds of acceptance among non-parents to be marginally higher relative to parents (AOR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.41). Females showed more than double the odds of acceptance relative to males (AOR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.91, 2.58). Together, the interaction of parent and gender had a significant effect on LGBT acceptance, with male parents being the least likely to express accepting attitudes towards the LGBT community (AORs = 1.45, 2.99, 2.64; 95% CIs = 2.30, 3.88; 1.09, 1.92; 2.01, 3.64, respectively). While theories surrounding masculinity and heteronormativity provide support for these findings, future research needs to focus on the relationships between fathers and their children. The public health significance of this study was to provide the basis for intervening in father-child relationships by first addressing sexual health and then LGBT acceptance. By encouraging fathers to have conversations about sexual health with their children, especially if they may be LGBT, there is the potential to increase knowledge of STIs and HIV, and reduce the risk of transmission and infection among the LGBT community.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
24 February 2017 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
5 December 2016 |
| Approval Date: |
24 February 2017 |
| Submission Date: |
27 November 2016 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
47 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
LGBT, Stigma, Acceptance, HIV risk, Homophobia |
| Date Deposited: |
24 Feb 2017 16:36 |
| Last Modified: |
25 Feb 2017 06:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/30388 |
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