Examining Nursing Students' Homophobic Attitudes, Empathic Skills, and Affecting Factors

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to examine the homophobic attitudes and empathy skill levels of nursing students and the influencing factors. Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 545 students studying nursing departments at two universities between September 2018 and January 2019. The data were collected using a Descriptive Characteristics Information Form, Hudson & Ricketts Homophobia Scale, and the Empathic Skill Scale (Form B). Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, number, percentage), student t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results: 71.4% of the students participating in the study were women, and the mean age was 20.02±1.47 years. It was determined that 51% of the students knew the concept of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) correctly, and 60.6% of them perfectly explained the concept of homosexuality. The students’ Hudson & Ricketts Homophobia Scale total mean score was 98.44±23.19. It was determined that male students, students from the Eastern Anatolian region, and students who misunderstood the concept of LGBT had more homophobic attitudes (p