Homosexuality Tolerance Among Male and Female Vietnamese Youth: An Examination of Traditional Sexual Values, Self-Esteem, and Demographic/Contextual Characteristics

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health 2014-12, Vol.55 (6), p.823-829
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Trang Quynh, M.S., M.H.S., Ph.D, Blum, Robert W., M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Asian; Biological and medical sciences; Correlates of homophobia; Developmental psychology; Educational Status; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Homophobia; Homophobia - statistics & numerical data; Homosexuality; Homosexuality - psychology; Humans; Internet; Male; Marital Status - statistics & numerical data; Pediatrics; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Self Concept; Self-esteem; Sex Factors; Sexual Behavior; Traditional values; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Vietnam; Young Adult; Youth
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.07.011

Abstract Purpose Disapproval of homosexuality is the cause of tremendous suffering among sexual minorities. No research has examined determinants of Vietnamese attitudes toward homosexuality. This article examined predictors of such attitudes among Vietnamese youth. Methods Data were from Vietnamese youth aged 15–24 years nationally surveyed in 2009 (Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth II). We evaluated structural equation models in which homosexuality tolerance was conceptualized to be influenced by two tiers of predictors: tier 1 (more proximal) including traditional sexual values and self-esteem and tier 2 (more distal) including demographic/contextual variables (urban residence, college education, Internet use, age, and marital status). Female (n = 3,135) and male (n = 3,072) data were analyzed separately. Results Sexual conservativeness predicted intolerance in both men and women; value of fidelity also predicted intolerance in women. Self-esteem was nonsignificant for women; for men, positive self-perception was nonsignificant, but negative self-perception predicted tolerance. College education, urban residence, and Internet use predicted tolerance, with gender differences. Conclusions Findings about traditional sexual values, college education, urban residence, and the gender difference in whether self-esteem matters are consistent with the literature. The positive association of Internet use with tolerance was first theorized and tested in this study. The study informs discussions on practice, in terms of tailoring/targeting attitude change interventions to rural versus urban youth and male versus female youth, capitalizing on the Internet to promote respect of sexual diversity, and locating attitudes toward homosexuality within the broader approach to sexuality.