Use of a media intervention to increase positive attitudes toward transgender and gender diverse individuals

Abstract

As issues related to transgender and gender diverse individuals gain more national media attention, professional organizations that promote mental health and LGBTQ+ rights continue to advocate for equality and inclusion. Barriers to equality and inclusion for transgender and gender diverse individuals can include a variety of factors including discrimination in educational and workplace settings, and issues related to housing, poverty, and homelessness. A total of 233 students from a large, Midwestern university participated and received an intervention along with pre- and post-testing. A split-plot factorial ANOVA to investigate potential differences in attitudes and beliefs towards transgender and gender diverse individuals using the Transgender Attitude and Beliefs Scale indicated a statistically significant interaction based on a media intervention where F(1, 109) = 7.042, p = .009. A split-plot factorial ANOVA to investigate potential differences in willingness to engage in social action on behalf of this population measured by the Social Justice Scale did not indicate a statistically significant interaction based on the media intervention where F(1, 109) = .881, p = .350. These findings suggest that a variety of potential media interventions can increase positive attitudes and beliefs toward marginalized groups, but a stronger and/or additional intervention is needed to for participants to engage in social action on behalf of the group. Implications and limitations to the study are discussed.