Abstract
Introduction
The main purpose of this study was to adapt the SOBS—Form 2 (SOBS-F2) in the Brazilian context and to examine its validity.
Methods
This study included two national surveys with two independent samples (Sample A, N = 868, data collection conducted in March 2022; Sample B, N = 1038, data collection conducted from July to August 2022). The materials used were a version of the SOBS-F2 adapted to the Brazilian context, a scale to measure sexual prejudice, and a questionnaire on the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics.
Results
The results of exploratory factor analysis in Sample A showed that the original structure of the scale was maintained in the Brazilian sample. The results of confirmatory factor analysis in Sample B attested to the replication of the same model, which presented satisfactory fit indices. Analyses of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity in both samples also showed that all factors of the SOBS adapted version (SOBS-F2A) were associated with correlated variables, as indicated in the literature.
Conclusions
Altogether, these results show that the SOBS-F2A presented good validity evidence. By confirming the replication of the model proposed by the original SOBS-F2, this study enhances knowledge regarding different types of essentialist beliefs about sexual orientation and provides an instrument with good psychometric properties for measuring these beliefs in the Brazilian context.
Policy Implications
This work broadens knowledge in this field, and it has implications for practical work, such as counselling psychology and psychotherapy, educational interventions, advocacy work, and policy-making.
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Data, Material, and Code Availability
The reader can consult any doubt about the data, material, and code by contacting the corresponding author.
Notes
Participants of other religious beliefs, such as Muslims and Jews, were not treated separately because the frequency of participation was very low, which also occurs in the general population of Brazil, and this would result in very small groups.
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Funding
This work was supported by a grant obtained by Jean Jesus Santos from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Ministry of Education, Brazil) for the realization of his doctoral thesis (Finance Code 001).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design, material preparation, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. The first draft of the manuscript was written by J.J.S., and E.C.S. commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. This study also was performed in accordance with Resolutions 466/2012 and 510/2016 of the National Health Council from Brazil. It received approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Sergipe (Opinion Number 5.159.509 and 5.531.979), which is the local institutional review board.
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Appendix 1. SOBS-F2A
Appendix 1. SOBS-F2A
Sexual Orientation Beliefs Scale—Form 2 Adapted Version
As sentenças a seguir refletem ideias que as pessoas têm sobre a orientação sexual. Indique o seu grau de concordância com cada uma das sentenças assinalando uma das alternativas seguintes, que variam de 1 (Discordo fortemente) até 5 (Concordo fortemente). Pedimos que responda de acordo com sua opinião, da forma mais sincera possível e lembre-se que não existem respostas certas ou erradas.
Itens | Nível de concordância | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Saber a orientação sexual de uma pessoa diz muito sobre elaa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. É útil agrupar as pessoas de acordo com a orientação sexual delasa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. A orientação sexual de uma pessoa é um atributo importantea | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. É possível conhecer muito sobre uma pessoa quando você conhece a orientação sexual delaa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. Se você não conhece a orientação sexual de uma pessoa, você não pode dizer que realmente conhece essa pessoaa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. A orientação sexual é uma categoria com classificações exclusivas: ou uma pessoa é gay/lésbica ou ela é heterossexualb | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
7. Pessoas que se identificam como bissexuais estão confusas quanto a sua verdadeira orientação sexualb | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. A orientação sexual é uma categoria com classificações claras: ou uma pessoa é gay/lésbica, ou ela é bissexual ou ela é heterossexualb | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
9. É possível ser “parcialmente” ou “um pouco” gay/lésbica ou heterossexualb (R) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
10. Uma pessoa tem apenas uma verdadeira orientação sexualb | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
11. Faz sentido que as pessoas possam se identificar com duas orientações sexuais ao mesmo tempob (R) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
12. Pessoas que compartilham a mesma orientação sexual têm objetivos em comumc | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
13. Pessoas com a mesma orientação sexual têm um mesmo destinoc | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
14. Pessoas com a mesma orientação sexual parecem estar ligadas entre si por algum tipo de conexão invisívelc | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
15. Pessoas que têm a mesma orientação sexual são muito parecidas entre sic | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
16. Existem mais semelhanças do que diferenças entre pessoas que têm a mesma orientação sexualc | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
17. Pessoas que têm a mesma orientação sexual interagem frequentemente entre sic | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
18. Se alguém “sai do armário” (se declara como gay ou lésbica), provavelmente essa pessoa sempre se sentiu atraída pelo mesmo sexod | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
19. A orientação sexual é definida cedo na vidad | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
20. A orientação sexual é inata (a pessoa já nasce com ela definida)d | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
21. Fatores sociais e ambientais são a causa principal da orientação sexual de uma pessoad (R) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
22. Fatores biológicos são a causa principal da orientação sexual de uma pessoad | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Santos, J.J., Cerqueira-Santos, E. Sexual Orientation Beliefs Scale (SOBS): Adaptation and Validity Evidence in the Brazilian Context. Sex Res Soc Policy (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-023-00889-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-023-00889-x