Description

The Homosexism Scale – Short Form (HSSF) is a concise psychometric instrument designed to assess homosexism, defined as negative attitudes, prejudice, stereotypes, and discriminatory beliefs toward individuals with a homosexual orientation. The short-form version was developed to provide a rapid yet psychometrically robust assessment while reducing respondent burden, making it particularly suitable for large-scale surveys, educational settings, and research where administration time is limited.

Unlike broader measures of sexual prejudice, the HSSF specifically focuses on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of homosexism, allowing researchers and practitioners to evaluate explicit negative attitudes toward lesbian and gay individuals.

The questionnaire is commonly used to investigate:

  • Attitudes toward homosexuality.
  • Sexual prejudice and social stigma.
  • Stereotypes regarding sexual minorities.
  • Acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Social tolerance and discrimination.
  • Cultural and religious influences on attitudes toward sexual orientation.
  • Predictors of prejudice and discriminatory behavior.

The HSSF is grounded in contemporary theories of sexual prejudice, minority stress, and social identity, providing valuable information for both scientific research and evidence-based intervention programs.

Analysis and Use of Data

The HSSF enables researchers to evaluate levels of homosexism and investigate their associations with demographic, psychological, social, cultural, and educational variables.

Statistical analyses commonly include:

  • Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentile distributions).
  • Reliability assessment using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega.
  • Construct validity evaluation through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).
  • Assessment of convergent and discriminant validity using measures of prejudice, social dominance orientation, authoritarianism, empathy, multicultural competence, and diversity attitudes.
  • Correlation analyses using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients.
  • Group comparisons using independent-samples t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, or appropriate non-parametric procedures.
  • Multiple regression analyses to identify demographic and psychosocial predictors of homosexism.
  • Mediation, moderation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine complex theoretical models.
  • Cross-cultural validation studies and measurement invariance analyses across populations.

The HSSF is widely used in:

  • Social psychology research
  • Clinical and counseling psychology
  • Educational research
  • Sociology
  • Public health
  • Diversity and inclusion research
  • Human rights and equality studies
  • Program evaluation and intervention research

Objective

The primary objective of the HSSF is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of explicit negative attitudes toward individuals with a homosexual orientation. The questionnaire supports the identification of prejudice, discrimination, and social stigma while facilitating research aimed at understanding the psychological, cultural, and social determinants of homosexism.

More specifically, the questionnaire aims to:

  • Assess explicit attitudes toward homosexuality.
  • Measure levels of sexual prejudice and discrimination.
  • Investigate the social consequences of homosexism.
  • Identify psychosocial and demographic factors associated with prejudicial attitudes.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of educational, diversity, and anti-discrimination interventions.
  • Support research on LGBTQ+ inclusion and social equality.
  • Contribute to the development of evidence-based policies promoting diversity, equity, and human rights.

The HSSF is particularly valuable in educational, organizational, healthcare, and community settings where understanding attitudes toward sexual minorities is essential for promoting inclusive and respectful environments.

Scoring

The HSSF consists of a reduced number of items compared with the original Homosexism Scale while maintaining satisfactory psychometric properties. Participants respond to each statement using Likert-type agreement scales, with response options varying according to the specific version of the questionnaire.

Responses are summed or averaged to generate a total score representing the individual’s level of homosexism. Higher scores indicate stronger negative attitudes, greater prejudice, and lower acceptance of individuals with a homosexual orientation. Some versions may also calculate subscale scores, depending on the questionnaire’s structure.

Psychometric evaluation of the HSSF commonly includes:

  • Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega)
  • Test–retest reliability
  • Construct validity
  • Convergent and discriminant validity
  • Factorial validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)
  • Measurement invariance across gender, age groups, cultures, and educational levels
  • Item analysis and corrected item–total correlations

Higher total scores generally reflect greater levels of explicit sexual prejudice and less accepting attitudes toward homosexuality, whereas lower scores indicate greater acceptance, inclusiveness, and support for sexual diversity.

References

Herek, G. M. (1984). Beyond “homophobia”: A social psychological perspective on attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Journal of Homosexuality, 10(1–2), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v10n01_01

Herek, G. M. (2000). The psychology of sexual prejudice. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(1), 19–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00051

Herek, G. M., & McLemore, K. A. (2013). Sexual prejudice. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 309–333. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143826

Morrison, M. A., & Morrison, T. G. (2002). Development and validation of a scale measuring modern prejudice toward gay men and lesbian women. Journal of Homosexuality, 43(2), 15–37. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v43n02_02

Nagoshi, J. L., Adams, K. A., Terrell, H. K., Hill, E. D., Brzuzy, S., & Nagoshi, C. T. (2008). Gender differences in correlates of homophobia and transphobia. Sex Roles, 59(7–8), 521–531.

Puckett, J. A., Woodward, E. N., Mereish, E. H., & Pantalone, D. W. (2015). Parental rejection following sexual orientation disclosure: Impact on internalized stigma, social support, and mental health. LGBT Health, 2(3), 265–269.

Herek, G. M. (2009). Sexual stigma and sexual prejudice in the United States: A conceptual framework. In D. A. Hope (Ed.), Contemporary Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identities (pp. 65–111). Springer.