Knowledge and Attitude towards Homosexuality among College Students in selected Colleges of Rewa (M.P): A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Homosexuality is attraction between the same sex peoples. A person’s sexual instinct (inborn pattern of romantic and sexual interest and identity) affects the attitudes of others toward him or her. In this time heterosexuality is the standard and most minority groups (counting lesbian Women and gay men) are subjected to stereotypes. The number of people associated with same-sex sexual activities ranges from 4 to17%.1The aim of the study is to assess knowledge and attitude towards homosexuality among college students. A non experimental descriptive survey research design was adopted. 100 college students were selected through purposive sampling technique. The standardized questionnaires were used for the data collection that is Knowledge about Homosexuality Questionnaire (KHQ) and Homosexuality Attitude Scale (HAS). Data was analyzed by using SPSS 20.0 version. The findings showed that the socio demographic variables of college students was found that the majority of 53(53.0%) were in the age group of 20-22 years, 69 (69.0%) of them were female, most of the students 85(85.0%) were Hindus, 93(93%) of students were unmarried, 33(33.0%) were III year students and most of the college students 90 (90.0%) received information towards homosexuality through mass media. Findings related to knowledge 63(63%) students had an average knowledge, 31(31%) had poor knowledge and 6 (6%) had good knowledge towards homosexuality.The attitude of college students towards homosexuality was found to be favorable. In the study 90(90%) of the college students had favorable attitude and 10 (10%) college students had unfavorable attitude towards homosexuality. There was significant association between knowledge score and demographic variables like age of the students and year of study where as no significant association between knowledge score and demographic variables like gender, religion, marital status and source of previous knowledge.The association between socio- demographic variables and attitude score. There was significant association between attitude score and demographic variables like age of the students and year of study where as no significant association between attitude score and demographic variables like gender, religion, marital status and source of previous knowledge.