eprintid: 30388
rev_number: 29
userid: 6300
dir: disk0/00/03/03/88
datestamp: 2017-02-24 16:36:05
lastmod: 2017-02-25 06:15:04
status_changed: 2017-02-24 16:36:05
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: ashley.chung91@gmail.com
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Chung, Ashley
creators_email: asc73@pitt.edu
creators_id: asc73
title: Exploring the relationship between being a parent and the acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_infectiousdiseasesmicrobiology
full_text_status: public
keywords: LGBT, Stigma, Acceptance, HIV risk, Homophobia
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.
date: 2017-02-24
date_type: published
pages: 47
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Friedman, Mackey R.
etdcommittee_name: Matthews, Derrick
etdcommittee_name: Egan, James
etdcommittee_name: Krier, Sarah
etdcommittee_name: Hull, Shawnika
etdcommittee_email: mrf9@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: derrick.matthews@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: jee48@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: sek29@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: sjhull@gwu.edu
etd_defense_date: 2016-12-05
etd_approval_date: 2017-02-24
etd_submission_date: 2016-11-27
etd_release_date: 2017-02-24
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
citation:   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)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/30388/1/AshleyChung_Thesis_MPH.pdf