Future psychologists’ attitudes toward lesbians raising children together in the situation of child focused intervention

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Future psychologists’ attitudes toward lesbians raising children together in the situation of child focused intervention

Journal Title: Psychiatria Polska - Year 2014, Vol 48, Issue 4

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of paper was to explore the attitudes of Polish psychology students towards lesbian mothers whose children undergo psychological intervention, in an imaginary situation of providing professional support to the child. The authors found 3 types of psychologist behaviour: contact omission (withdrawal from the intervention, mother’s partner exclusion), apparent appreciation of mother’s partner and authentic appreciation of mother’s partner (with women comparable participation). The authors explored an interaction between these attitudes and the support for gay and lesbian rights, the origin of the child (from a previous heterosexual relationship or present, homosexual one) and demographic variables. Methods : 97 students of psychology were examined at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, using the custom survey. Results : Respondents were most likely to include mother’s partner to intervention, and the least – to avoid contact. Based on cluster analysis we found three types of attitude: unconditional acceptance, conditional acceptance, dependent on whether the child was born due in heterosexual or lesbian relationship and avoidance / rejection. The attitude of participants was associated with the declared support for gay rights, there was no correlation with gender and age. Conclusions : Due to the significant level of social prejudice against gays and lesbians in Poland, the issue of homosexual parenting and social functioning of gay and lesbians’ children should become an area of research and scientific debate. There is a necessity of the introduction of this issue to the curricula of higher education and the implementation of formal, systematic training on sexual diversity for the professionals supporting families.

Authors and Affiliations

Jowita Wycisk, Paweł Kleka

Keywords

Homosexuality Parenting Attitude of Health Personnel

EP ID EP105434
DOI -
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