Homophobic Attitudes of Sicilian Psychologists: What are the Risks for Clinical Practice?

Introduction: an openly or even unknowingly pathologizing approach towards LGBT+ individuals on the part of mental healthcare professionals can compromise adherence to deontological principles and the very effectiveness of mental health interventions. This study aimed to explore homonegative attitudes of licensed psychologists in Sicily, Italy. Methods: a quantitative survey created by Lingiardi and colleagues (2015) and previously administered in other Italian regions was used for data collection to allow higher replicability and comparability. Descriptive and exploratory data analyses were conducted. The sample (n = 727) corresponded to 8% of psychologists registered in the region. Data collection occurred in 2021. Results: more than 75% of the sample fully agreed that homosexuality is a normal variant of sexuality and that it was not a symptom, nor a pathology, nor the expression of an incomplete sexual development. When it came to assumptions on the origin of homosexuality, varied positions emerged, evidencing contradiction with the majoritarian agreement of homosexuality’s normality. Moreover, 27% of sample partially or completely agreed that a professional should help a patient/client change their sexual orientation, despite this practice being an offense to the Italian Psychologists’ Code of Conduct. Conclusions: Participants describing themselves as very religious and right-wing politically affiliated held higher levels of homonegative attitudes. Participants who claimed to have gay/lesbian friends, manifested fewer negative attitudes. Policy Implications: international trends of homonegative attitudes being upheld by conservative and religious groups may also be affecting healthcare professionals in Sicily and beyond, evidencing a need for more thoughtful training that can help deconstruct negative stereotypes regarding sexual identities.