A new study done by researchers from the IU Center for Sexual Health Promotion shows a change in attitudes toward bisexual men and women.
Positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians increased in recent decades, but attitudes toward bisexual men and women went from negative to neutral, according to a Monday release.
Brian Dodge, associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science and associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, led the study.
“That nearly one third of participants reported moderately to extremely negative attitudes toward bisexual individuals is of great concern given the dramatic health disparities faced by bisexual men and women in our country, even relative to gay and lesbian individuals,” Dodge said in the release.
The research showed more than one third of male and female respondents were most likely neither to agree nor disagree with attitudinal statements toward bisexuals. Nearly 40 percent of respondents said they neither agreed nor disagreed to the statement that bisexual men and women have the capability to be faithful in a relationship.
In general, attitudes were more positive toward bisexual women than bisexual men.
In the release, Dodge said bisexual men and women face a disproportionate rate of physical, mental and other health disparities in comparison to exclusively heterosexual or homosexual people. He said negative attitudes and stigma could play a role.
This study is the second of its kind. It explored attitudes toward bisexual men and women in a sample representative of the United States, according to the release.
Dodge said he wants the results to show the need to decrease negative stereotypes toward bisexual individuals.
Laurel Demkovich
