ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study applied the intergroup contact theory in the context of transgender prejudice and examined the relationships between quality and quantity of contact and explicit and implicit anti-transgender prejudice. Additionally, the study assessed the possible mediating role of intergroup anxiety in the relationship between intergroup contact and anti-transgender prejudice. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the proposed relationships, controlling for gender, religiosity, and political conservatism. Data were collected from an online sample of 354 participants (males: n = 168; females: n = 186). As hypothesized, greater quantity of contact was uniquely related to less implicit anti-transgender prejudice, whereas greater quality of contact was uniquely related to less explicit and implicit anti-transgender prejudice. Intergroup anxiety mediated the relationships between quality of contact and implicit and explicit anti-transgender prejudice but did not mediate the relationship between quantity of contact and implicit anti-transgender prejudice.
Subject(s)
Transgender Persons , Anxiety , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Latent Class Analysis , Male , PrejudiceABSTRACT
In recent years, issues surrounding transgender have garnered media and legal attention, contributing to rapidly shifting views on gender in the U.S. Yet, there is a paucity of data-driven studies on the public's views of transgender identity. This study reports the development and validation of the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS). After constructing an initial 96-item pool from consulting experts and existing scales, Phase 1 of the study was launched, involving an exploratory factor analysis of 48 items. The initial factor analysis with 295 participants revealed three factors across 33 items-16 items on interpersonal comfort, 11 on sex/gender beliefs, and 6 on human value. The internal consistency of each factor was high-α = .97 for Factor 1, α = .95 for Factor 2, and α = .94 for Factor 3. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in the second phase with an independent sample consisting of 238 participants. The Attitudes Toward Transgender Individual Scale and the Genderism and Transphobia Scale were also included to test for convergent validity, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the short form of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale were utilized to test discriminant validity. Both of the data collection phases employed MTurk, a form of online sampling with increased diversity compared to college student samples and more generalizability to the general U.S. POPULATION: TABS represents an addition to the literature in its ability to capture a more nuanced conceptualization of transgender attitude not found in previous scales.
Subject(s)
Attitude , Gender Identity , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Transgender Persons/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Religion , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Although the field of transprejudice studies has been growing, the literature suggests a need for quality assessments in languages other than English. To address this need, our study translated the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS) and evaluated its psychometric properties for use with Spanish-speaking populations. We recruited participants (N = 605) from American and Spanish samples. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate fit, confirming the three-factor structure of TABS-Spanish Version (TABS-S). Correlations with existing measures provided evidence for its convergent and discriminant validity. Known-groups validity of the TABS-S was evidenced through confirming previous findings that females show less transgender prejudice than males. Moreover, the internal consistency of the TABS-S scores was high for the total scale (α = .96) and subscales (α = .87-.96). Overall, there is preliminary evidence to suggest that the TABS-S is a valid and reliable scale appropriate for use with Spanish-speaking populations.
Subject(s)
Sexual and Gender Minorities , Transgender Persons , Male , Female , Humans , Psychometrics , Surveys and Questionnaires , Language , Attitude , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Our study examined factors associated with transphobia with a particular focus on the interrelations between religious fundamentalism and contact to impact transphobia. We used an online sample of U.S. adults (Mean age = 38.91 years, SD = 12.58 years; n = 400) to conduct a partially latent variable SEM analysis and tested the direct effects of religious fundamentalism, contact, and gender on transphobia and the indirect effects of religious fundamentalism on transphobia through contact. We additionally tested for gender differences in the structural relations of the variables through a multi-group analysis. Results showed a statistically significant effect of religious fundamentalism, contact, and gender on transphobia. Religious fundamentalism also had a statistically significant indirect effect on transphobia through contact. Gender differences were also found for the effects of religious fundamentalism on contact and on transphobia. We conclude with implications for research and practice.
Subject(s)
Religion , Adult , Humans , Latent Class Analysis , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Transgender people suffer from a variety of consequences as victims of anti-transgender prejudice. Christians have been frequently identified as holding negative attitudes toward transgender people; however, there is evidence that these attitudes may be changing. Accurate measurement of attitudes is important in understanding currently held beliefs and to assess potential changes over time. This study tested the validity of the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS) for use with the Christian population with a sample of 207 self-identified Christians in the United States. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the factor structure of TABS: χ2 (374, N = 207) = 821.46, p < 0.001 (normed χ2 = 2.20 < 4); RMSEA = .076 (90%CI = .069; .083), CFI = .926, SRMR = .053. Overall, results suggest that TABS is an appropriate instrument to utilize with the Christian population in the United states.