Sookpornsawan Rudeemas, Kiatrungrit Komsan, Seree Patcharin, Korpaisarn Sira, Arunakul Jiraporn
Master of Science Program in Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology, Affiliate Program Between Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital and National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
BMJ Open. 2024 Dec 26;14(12):e089390. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-089390.
In recent years, global media has increasingly represented lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, contributing to greater societal acceptance of diverse sexualities and gender identities. However, in Thailand, negative attitudes towards LGBT individuals remain prevalent, and media portrayals, both positive and negative, play a critical role in shaping public perceptions. These portrayals can significantly influence how different groups, particularly adolescents, view LGBT individuals. Given the importance of media in shaping attitudes, this study aims to explore the association between Thai adolescents' exposure to gender and sexual diversity in media (GSDM) and their stigmatising attitudes towards LGBT individuals.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the first and second semesters of the academic year 2021 in eight schools located in Bangkok, Thailand.
Adolescents from these schools completed a survey assessing demographics, exposure to GSDM, and stigmatising attitudes towards LGBT individuals. The LGBTQ stigma scale was used for attitudes, and media exposure was measured using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was conducted to test the association between exposure to GSDM and stigmatising attitudes.
Out of 553 participants, with an average age of 16.34 years (ranging from 14 to 20 years), a third identified as LGBT (34.72%). Participants had moderate exposure to both positive and negative GSDM content (PGSDM and NGSDM, respectively), with those assigned female at birth more exposed to PGSDM than those assigned male at birth, and exhibiting lower levels of stigmatisation. Adolescents assigned female at birth and those who identified as LGBT displayed significantly lower stigmatisation than those assigned male at birth and non-LGBT individuals. Adolescents overall exhibited generally low stigmatisation towards LGBT individuals, with higher levels of stigmatisation linked to exposure to NGSDM (=0.80, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.25). In contrast, PGSDM exposure was associated with reduced stigmatisation (=-2.73, 95% CI -3.10 to -2.35).
Thai adolescents generally exhibit low levels of stigmatisation towards LGBT individuals. The study found an association between positive GSDM exposure and lower levels of stigmatisation, while negative exposure was linked to higher levels of stigmatisation. These findings suggest that media literacy programmes emphasising positive portrayals of gender diversity may be beneficial in promoting acceptance and reducing bias.
近年来，全球媒体对女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和跨性别者（LGBT）的呈现越来越多，这有助于社会对不同性取向和性别认同的接受度提高。然而，在泰国，对LGBT群体的负面态度仍然普遍存在，媒体的正面和负面呈现对塑造公众认知起着关键作用。这些呈现会显著影响不同群体，尤其是青少年，对LGBT群体的看法。鉴于媒体在塑造态度方面的重要性，本研究旨在探讨泰国青少年接触媒体中的性别与性取向多样性（GSDM）与他们对LGBT群体的污名化态度之间的关联。
在2021学年的第一学期和第二学期，对泰国曼谷的八所学校进行了一项横断面调查。
这些学校的青少年完成了一项调查，评估人口统计学特征、接触GSDM的情况以及对LGBT群体的污名化态度。使用LGBTQ污名量表来衡量态度，通过研究者编制的问卷来测量媒体接触情况。进行线性回归分析以检验接触GSDM与污名化态度之间的关联。
在553名参与者中，平均年龄为16.34岁（年龄范围为14至20岁），三分之一的人自我认同为LGBT群体（34.72%）。参与者对正面和负面的GSDM内容（分别为PGSDM和NGSDM）的接触程度适中，出生时被指定为女性的参与者比出生时被指定为男性的参与者更多地接触到PGSDM，且污名化程度较低。出生时被指定为女性的青少年和自我认同为LGBT群体的青少年的污名化程度明显低于出生时被指定为男性的青少年和非LGBT群体个体。总体而言，青少年对LGBT群体的污名化程度普遍较低，较高的污名化程度与接触NGSDM有关（β = 0.80，95%置信区间为0.35至1.25）。相比之下，接触PGSDM与污名化程度降低有关（β = -2.73，95%置信区间为-3.10至-2.35）。
泰国青少年对LGBT群体的污名化程度普遍较低。研究发现，接触正面的GSDM与较低的污名化程度之间存在关联；而接触负面内容则与较高的污名化程度相关。这些发现表明，强调性别多样性正面呈现的媒体素养项目可能有助于促进接纳并减少偏见。
