Attitudes Towards Homosexuality and Associated Factors Among Medical Students

This study aimed to determine the psychosocial factors that may influence attitudes toward sexual orientation among medical students and to explore the relationship between attitudes regarding gender roles, sexual myths, and homophobia.

A total of 457 medical students from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in Turkiye were included in the study during the 2022- 2023 academic year. Participants received the Sociodemographic Data Form, Hudson & Ricketts Homophobia Scale, Sexual Myths Scale, and Gender Role Attitudes Scale.

Homophobia scores were found to be lower among fifth- and sixth-grade medical students compared to first-year students. Lower rates of homophobia were observed in students receiving psychiatric treatment and those who identify as secular. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between sexual myths and homophobia, and a negative correlation between gender role attitudes and homophobia. Predictors of homophobia include right-wing political orientation, conservatism, a high belief in sexual myths, and non-egalitarian attitudes toward gender roles. Finally, a mediation analysis demonstrated that attitudes toward gender roles serve as a partial mediating variable in the relationship between sexual myths and homophobia.

The findings of our study highlight the significance of psychosocial and cultural factors in shaping attitudes toward sexual orientation and the need for accurate and comprehensive sexuality education in the medical curriculum. It is expected that thorough and equitable education will mitigate the stress associated with homophobia.