The attitudes of australian heterosexual university students toward the suicide of gay, lesbian and heterosexual peers

Mari Molloy, Suzanne McLaren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-51
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Nov 2004

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