Factors Associated with Homosexuality Tolerance: The Role of Personality,Conservatism,Religiosity and Scientific Knowledge

Factors Associated with Homosexuality Tolerance: The Role of Personality, Conservatism, Religiosity and Scientific Knowledge RuhollahHeydariSheikhahmad, University of MohagheghArdabili, Ardabili, Iran Saba Norouzi, Master degree student of Clinical Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Abstract In most countries, homosexuality is either criminalized or homosexuals experience legal and social discrimination. The present study was designed to identify factors that contribute the most to homophobia. A large sample of young adults (n = 652) responded to an online survey. Measures assessing personality dimensions, adherence to traditional values, religiosity and scientific knowledge about sexual orientation were included in the survey. A total of 466 responses were valid (response rate = 71.47%; 62% = females). All data were analyzed using bivariate correlations and regression analysis. Results revealed that 79.18% of the respondents endorsed negative attitudes toward homosexuality and only 12.02% reported having some knowledge of the science of sexual orientation. Gender differences were also noted with women endorsing greater homophobia. Furthermore, conscientiousness, openness, adherence to traditional sexual values, and religiosity emerged as predictors of homophobia. Conscientiousness and religiosity accounted for a significant amount (34.68%) of the variance in homosexuality tolerance and openness and adherence to traditional values accounted for an additional 13.06%.Findings indicate that any change in public attitude toward homosexuality may be slow to come. Efforts to increase the awareness and knowledge of the pubic regarding sexuality may help reduce the negative attitude toward homosexuality, but with religiosity being a critical determinant, LGBT youth may profit from changes in legislation rather than from changes in social perception. Keywords: LGBT, homosexuality, religiosity, conservatism, gender