TY - JOUR
T1 - The attitudes of australian heterosexual university students toward the suicide of gay, lesbian and heterosexual peers
AU - Molloy, Mari
AU - McLaren, Suzanne
PY - 2004/11/29
Y1 - 2004/11/29
N2 - This study sought to examine the attitudes of heterosexual university students to peer suicide when that peer was gay, lesbian, or heterosexual. University students (n = 206) completed several questionnaires, including The Suicide Attitude Vignette Experience. Results indicated that the suicide act was seen as more justified, acceptable, and necessary when the adolescent was gay or lesbian. Further, gay and lesbian youth suicide victims were shown significantly less empathy than heterosexual suicide victims. Participants' level of homophobia was found to be a significant predictor of attitudes toward gay and lesbian youth suicide. Results indicate that the peer group of gay and lesbian youth is unsupportive of their sexual orientation, and these attitudes may be an additional risk factor for gay and lesbian youth suicide.
AB - This study sought to examine the attitudes of heterosexual university students to peer suicide when that peer was gay, lesbian, or heterosexual. University students (n = 206) completed several questionnaires, including The Suicide Attitude Vignette Experience. Results indicated that the suicide act was seen as more justified, acceptable, and necessary when the adolescent was gay or lesbian. Further, gay and lesbian youth suicide victims were shown significantly less empathy than heterosexual suicide victims. Participants' level of homophobia was found to be a significant predictor of attitudes toward gay and lesbian youth suicide. Results indicate that the peer group of gay and lesbian youth is unsupportive of their sexual orientation, and these attitudes may be an additional risk factor for gay and lesbian youth suicide.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Australia
KW - Homophobia
KW - Suicide
KW - Undergraduate students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85011477587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85011477587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1300/J367v02n02_03
DO - 10.1300/J367v02n02_03
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85011477587
SN - 1541-0889
VL - 2
SP - 27
EP - 51
JO - Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education
JF - Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education
IS - 2
ER -