Knowledge, Social Contact, Social Distance Practices and Attitude towards LGBT Community: A Cross-Sectional Study from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh

Description

Page: 406-410

Sonam Kumari Rawat and Shubham Kharwar (Department of Psychology, Feroze Gandhi College Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh)

The increased awareness towards sexual orientation and non-normative sexualities may affect LGBT individuals’ lives in two directions; it may reduce prejudice among the general population; on the other side, it may increase the probability of prejudices because of different sexual orientations or out-group bias. The increasing cases of depression, anxiety, suicide, and suicide attempts among LGBT individuals in comparison to the general population makes it important to investigate antecedents of prejudice towards them. The present study aims to explore the relationship between knowledge, social contact, social distance practices, and attitudes toward the LGBT community among the general population. Cross-sectional data were collected from 208 participants (Male- 59.1%, Female- 40.9%) within the age range of 18-64 years (M = 25.4, SD = 4.17) employing the convenience sampling method from Raebareli. The Data were subjected to descriptive, correlational and regression analysis. The findings indicate that the knowledge about and attitude toward the LGBT community are significantly associated with all contact and distance practices toward the LGBT community. The findings of the study may help in developing tailor-made interventions based on increasing social contact and enhancing knowledge about the different sexual orientations to reduce the targeted prejudice towards the LGBT community.