Homophobia Short Scale (HSS): Performance in female nursing students

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.