
AbstractNegative attitudes toward Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) individuals leads to a perceived inability of LGB individuals to foster ‘appropriate’ family relationships, inciting negative attitudes specifically toward same-sex parenting. Intergroup and interpersonal relationships play a critical role in fostering attitudes toward others wherein type of contact, frequency, degree of closeness in the relationship, and the positivity/negativity of interactions are potential mediator of these relations, Moreover, the mechanism behind co-constructing positive relationships with sexual and gender minorities is comfort with contact with LGB individuals. The present study explored the effects of interpersonal contact and the mediator role of comfort with LGB people in explaining attitudes toward same-sex parenting in Spanish-speaking countries in North, Central, and South America. These countries are of particular interest given the dearth of research in the region on attitudes toward same-sex parenting as well as the varying degrees of acceptance of and protections for same-sex parented families. A non-probabilistic sample of 1955 heterosexual cisgender participants from 14 countries was asked to complete a series of sociodemographic questions, a questionnaire about their interpersonal contact/comfort experiences with LGB people, and the Attitudes Toward Gay and Lesbian Parenting Scale. Results showed that comfort was vital in fostering accepting attitudes toward Same-Sex Parenting across countries. Findings also suggested that comfort with LGB people has a particularly powerful influence in regions with less legal and cultural acceptance of LGB individuals. Policies are not enough to instill widespread change: we must encourage, facilitate, and supervise the formation of relationships with LGB people.
Interpersonal contact, Lesbian, Social Psychology, Developmental psychology, Science, Family Structure and Fertility Patterns, Social Sciences, Sexual prejudice, Interpersonal communication, Social psychology, Mathematical analysis, Article, Global Trends in Infertility and Reproductive Technologies, Psychoanalysis, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Intersectionality in LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Health Sciences, FOS: Mathematics, Humans, Psychology, Demography, Parenting, LGBT individuals, Q, R, Closeness, Hispanic or Latino, Same-sex parented families, United States, Interpersonal relationship, FOS: Sociology, FOS: Psychology, Attitude, Reproductive Medicine, Homonegativity, South American People, Medicine, Continental American Hispanic Nations (CAHN), Central American People, Mathematics
Interpersonal contact, Lesbian, Social Psychology, Developmental psychology, Science, Family Structure and Fertility Patterns, Social Sciences, Sexual prejudice, Interpersonal communication, Social psychology, Mathematical analysis, Article, Global Trends in Infertility and Reproductive Technologies, Psychoanalysis, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Intersectionality in LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Health Sciences, FOS: Mathematics, Humans, Psychology, Demography, Parenting, LGBT individuals, Q, R, Closeness, Hispanic or Latino, Same-sex parented families, United States, Interpersonal relationship, FOS: Sociology, FOS: Psychology, Attitude, Reproductive Medicine, Homonegativity, South American People, Medicine, Continental American Hispanic Nations (CAHN), Central American People, Mathematics
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 4 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
