Support for Gay and Lesbian Rights Among Students of Helping Professions in Crete, Greece: A Comparison between Social Work and Psychology Students

J Homosex. 2021 May 12;68(6):934-956. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2019.1694336. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

Abstract

This study explores the level of support for gay and lesbian rights among social work and psychology undergraduate students (N = 870). While students were generally supportive of gay and lesbian rights, 43% believed that social workers and psychologists should support gay and lesbian rights only 'when lesbians and gay men do not offend or upset others', while 31.3% agreed that these rights should be supported 'as long as they don't contradict the prevalent religion and values of the society they live in'. Social work students were more supportive of all items compared to psychology students; they were also more supportive regarding professionals' obligation to challenge negative discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Religiosity, gender and having gay and lesbian friends or acquaintances were important correlates of students' level of support for gay and lesbian rights. Findings are discussed in relation to social work and psychology education.

Keywords: Gay rights; Greece; homosexuality; lesbian rights; psychology students; social work students; support.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Homosexuality, Female*
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Human Rights*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychology / education*
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • Social Support*
  • Social Work
  • Social Workers / psychology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Young Adult