Abstract
Objective:
To estimate the psychometric performance of the Homophobia Short Scale (HSS) in female nursing students in a university in Cartagena, Colombia.
Method:
A validation study was designed in which 419 female nursing students from the first to the eighth semester participated, aged between 18 and 29 years (M=20.9, SD=2.9). The students completed all four items of the HSS. Internal consistency was found (Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega) and dimensionality (confirmatory factor analysis, CFA).
Results:
The internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach of 0.68 and McDonald of 0.69) and in the CFA one factor was retained which accounted for 51.5% of the variance, with acceptable global indicators of goodness of fit (the root of the mean square error of approximation =0.08, CI=90% 0.03-0.14, Comparative Fit Index=0.98, Tucker-Lewis Index=0.94, and standardized mean square residual=0.02). The scores were similar, according to ethnic-race and political orientation (p>0.001) and significantly higher in Christians than in other religious affiliations (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
In female nursing students, the HSS shows an acceptable performance in internal consistency and one factor, with good dimensionality indicators. It is necessary to know this performance in male nursing students.
Keywords
Students nursing; Homophobia; Validation studies