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Table 2 Description of attitudes

From: Medical students’ attitudes toward gay men

Homosexual behavior α = 0.86 (.78-.99)

n

% Agree/Strongly agree (6/7)

% Neutral (5)

Mean (Standard deviation)

Minimum Observed

Maximum observed

Homosexual behavior between men is morally wrong.

238

5.9

2.0

1.7 (1.5)

1.0

7.0

Male homosexuality is a perversion.

238

4.2

1.0

1.5 (1.3)

1.0

7.0

If a man has homosexual feelings he should overcome them.

238

2.9

0.4

1.4 (1.1)

1.0

7.0

If I saw two men holding hands I would be more disgusted than if I saw a man and a woman holding hands.

238

4.2

6.0

1.8 (1.5)

1.0

7.0

The thought of two men having sex is more disgusting than the thought of a man and woman having sex.

238

16.4

12.0

3.0 (2.1)

1.0

7.0

Male homosexuality is as natural a sexual expression in men as heterosexuality.*

238

82.3

6.4

2.8 (2.1)

1.0

7.0

Homosexual persons α = 0.57 (.29-.84)

      

Gay men are disgusting.

238

.42

0.4

1.3 (0.8)

1.0

7.0

I won’t associate with gay men if I can help it.

238

0.4

0.0

1.1 (0.6)

1.0

7.0

Gay men are a threat to the safety of children.

238

0.0

0.4

1.1 (0.4)

1.0

5.0

I would not mind having male friends who are gay.

238

97.9

0.4

1.3 (1.0)

1.0

7.0

Civil rights α = 0.59 (.41-.77)

      

Sexual behavior between men should be illegal.

238

0.0

0.0

1.1 (0.4)

1.0

4.0

Gay men should have the same civil rights as anyone else.*

238

98.7

0.4

1.2 (0.8)

1.0

7.0

I am happy when I hear about gay men fighting for rights in society.*

238

92.0

1.7

1.8 (1.4)

1.0

7.0

Male toughness α = 0.82 (.61-1.0)

      

When a man is feeling a little pain he should try not to show it.

238

8.0

10.0

2.6 (1.7)

1.0

7.0

Nobody respects a man who frequently talks about his worries, fears, and problems.

238

5.5

12.0

2.6 (1.6)

1.0

7.0

A good motto for a man would be “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

238

16.0

10.0

3.6 (1.7)

1.0

7.0

A young man should become physically tough even if he isn’t big.

238

6.3

11.3

3.0 (1.6)

1.0

7.0

Fists are sometimes the only way out of a bad situation.

238

4.2

9.5

2.3 (1.6)

1.0

7.0

A real man enjoys a bit of danger now and then.

238

4.6

10.0

2.6 (1.6)

1.0

7.0

In some situations a man should use his fists even if his wife or girlfriend would object.

238

1.7

5.7

2.0 (1.3)

1.0

7.0

  1. *Reverse scored for scale calculation (values of 1, 2, or 3 corresponded to 7, 6, or 5 respectively).