Date on Honors Thesis

Spring 4-22-2024

Major

Pyschology

Minor

Gender and Diversity Studies

Examining Committee Member

Michael Bordieri, PhD, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Amanda Joyce, PhD, Advisor

Examining Committee Member

Michael Bordieri, PhD, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Jeff Osborne, PhD, Committee Member

Abstract/Description

Many studies focus on LGBTQIA+ individuals in the United States, but there are fewer studies about asexuality, especially in the Bible Belt: a collection of states in the Southeast with populations having increased rates of conservatism, religiosity, and expectations of traditional gender and sexuality norms (Baunach et al, 2009). The purpose of the study was to examine anti-asexual bias and its relation to different variables in college-age students who attended college and/or lived in the Bible Belt. It was hypothesized political positioning, ethnic and racial background, religiosity/spirituality, adherence to social norms, traditional vs egalitarian gender roles, and pathologizing of asexual individuals would predict anti-asexual bias. 106 participants completed a battery of assessments including Traditional Egalitarian Sex Role (Larson & Long, 1988; α = .93), Attitudes Towards Asexuals (Hoffarth et al, 2015; α = .94), Social-Norms Espousal Scale (Levine et al, 2013; α = .82), Conservatism (MPA Traditionalism) (Goldberg et al, 2006; α = .84), and Spirituality Religiousness (Peterson & Seligman, 2003; α = .94) scales. Results indicated these variables, besides ethnic and racial background, positively correlated with anti-asexual bias, implicating greater conservatism, spirituality/religiosity, traditional gender roles, greater adherence to social norms, and pathologizing of asexuality may predict negative attitudes toward asexuality. All significant correlations reported r > .20 and p values < .05

Keywords: asexuality, predictors of anti-asexual bias, LGBTQIA+, gender roles, ethnic and racial identity, pathologizing

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