CHFA | Psychology Department Showcase: Completed Projects
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Gender and Diversity Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Amanda Joyce, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
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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Psychology: Completed Projects
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Correlates of Anti-Asexual Bias in the Bible Belt
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