title: Athletic trainers' attitudes toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Researchers have investigated heterosexuals' attitudes toward homosexuals, focusing on factors such as sex, race, religion, education, and contact experiences. However, in the context of sport, this research is deficient. We found no published literature investigating athletic trainers (ATs') attitudes toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual student-athletes (LGB).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine heterosexual ATs' attitudes toward LGB student-athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  E-mailed survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 964 ATs employed at member institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured attitudes using the Attitudes Toward Lesbian, Gay Men, and Bisexuals (ATLGB) Scale. To determine the extent to which sex, religion, and whether having an LGB friend or family member had an effect on ATs' attitudes, we performed analysis of variance. To establish the effect of age on ATs' attitudes, we calculated a Pearson correlation. We used an independent t test to identify differences between ATs who reported working with LGB student-athletes and ATs who did not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With ATLGB score as the dependent factor, a main effect was noted for sex, religion, and having an LGB friend or family member (P < .01 for all comparisons). Age and total score were related (P < .01). A difference was seen in the ATLGB scores between ATs who were aware of LGB student-athletes on their teams and ATs who were not (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many ATs hold positive attitudes toward LGB student-athletes, especially females, those who have an LGB friend or family member, and those who are aware of LGB student-athletes. Still, it is important to provide an open environment in the athletic training room for all student-athletes.
authors.affiliation: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA. Ke357207@ohio.edu
authors.forename: Kristine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ensign
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yiamouyiannis
authors.forename: Kristi M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: B David
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Ridpath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001727:Bisexuality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012067:Religion; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities