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Perception of Attitudes of the General Population toward Homosexuality in Taiwan: Roles of Demographic Factors, Mental Health, and Social Debates on Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

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  • Huang-Chi Lin

    (Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
    Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
    Huang-Chi Lin and Yi-Lung Chen contributed equally to this study.)

  • Yi-Lung Chen

    (Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
    Department of Psychology, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
    Huang-Chi Lin and Yi-Lung Chen contributed equally to this study.)

  • Nai-Ying Ko

    (Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan)

  • Yu-Ping Chang

    (School of Nursing, The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA)

  • Wei-Hsin Lu

    (Department of Psychiatry, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi City 60002, Taiwan)

  • Cheng-Fang Yen

    (Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
    Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan)

Abstract

The aims of this online survey study were to examine the associations of demographic characteristics (gender, age, and sexual orientation), mental health status, and point in time of the survey (i.e., the beginning of the social debates on legalizing same-sex marriage vs. the end of the social debates) with people’s perception of the attitudes of the general population in Taiwan toward homosexuality. A two-wave internet survey was conducted using Facebook to gather information regarding people’s perception of the population’s attitudes toward homosexuality among 4562 participants. The five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale was used for assessing mental health status. The results indicated that participants perceived the population as having a lower acceptance at the end of the social debates on legalizing same-sex marriage than at the beginning of the social debates; gender moderated the decline in perceived acceptance. The results also indicated that poor mental health and heterosexual orientation were significantly associated with a lower perception of the population’s homosexuality acceptance in both waves of the survey. The factors related to perceived homosexuality acceptance need to be considered in developing programs to increase the population’s homosexuality acceptance.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang-Chi Lin & Yi-Lung Chen & Nai-Ying Ko & Yu-Ping Chang & Wei-Hsin Lu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2021. "Perception of Attitudes of the General Population toward Homosexuality in Taiwan: Roles of Demographic Factors, Mental Health, and Social Debates on Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2618-:d:511359
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. McCabe, S.E. & Bostwick, W.B. & Hughes, T.L. & West, B.T. & Boyd, C.J., 2010. "The relationship between discrimination and substance use disorders among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(10), pages 1946-1952.
    2. Mays, V.M. & Cochran, S.D., 2001. "Mental health correlates of perceived discrimination among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(11), pages 1869-1876.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chung-Ying Lin & Yu-Te Huang & Chiu-Hsiang Lee & Chia-Wei Fan & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2022. "Gay Community Stress Scale with Its Cultural Translation and Adaptions in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Huang-Chi Lin & Yu-Ping Chang & Yi-Lung Chen & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2022. "Relationships of Homophobic Bullying Victimization during Childhood with Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms in Early Adulthood among Gay and Bisexual Men: Mediating Effect of Depressive Symptoms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Huang-Chi Lin & Chih-Cheng Chang & Yu-Ping Chang & Yi-Lung Chen & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2022. "Associations among Perceived Sexual Stigma from Family and Peers, Internalized Homonegativity, Loneliness, Depression, and Anxiety among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Yu-Te Huang & Wen-Jiun Chou & Yi-Chen Hang & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2023. "Sexual Orientation Microaggression Experiences and Coping Responses of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    5. Gsakani Olivia Sumbane & Nogwane Maureen Makua, 2023. "Exploring the Mental Health Challenges and Coping Behaviour of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Students at an Institution of Higher Learning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, March.
    6. Chung-Ying Lin & Ching-Shu Tsai & Chia-Wei Fan & Mark D. Griffiths & Chih-Cheng Chang & Cheng-Fang Yen & Amir H. Pakpour, 2022. "Psychometric Evaluation of Three Versions of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Full, Eight-Item, and Three-Item Versions) among Sexual Minority Men in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, July.
    7. Ting Kin Ng & Ting Hin Lee & Hazyle Yuen & Wai Chan, 2023. "Attitudes toward Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage: The Roles of Parental Attitudes, Traditional Gender Role Values, and Filial Piety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.

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