Exploring anti-asexual bias and future clinical contact intentions with asexual people among undergraduate psychology students

Abstract

Asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction, which is believed to exist within 0.4 – 1.05% of the general population. In order to provide culturally competent and safe care, mental health professionals must assess their attitudes and biases towards asexual people. Although attitudes towards asexual people have been investigated among the general population and in a sample of university students, there has been little research on the attitudes held by mental health professionals. This thesis investigates undergraduate psychology students, as future mental health professionals, on their attitudes towards asexual people. The main aims were to determine demographic predictors and potential correlates of anti-asexual bias. Furthermore, we investigated how the predictors of anti-asexual bias affects students’ willingness to engage in future clinical work with asexual people. The study recruited 231 participants from undergraduate psychology programs to complete an online survey assessing their attitudes towards asexual people, bias against singles, and gender ideologies. In addition, participants rated how comfortable and confident they felt about working with asexual people within mental health settings in the future. Participants who reported greater endorsement of traditional gender role ideology, and negative bias against singles, also reported greater levels of anti-asexual bias. Participants who reported lower levels of anti-asexual bias rated higher levels of comfort and confidence in future clinical contact with asexual people. Drawing on these findings, this thesis concludes by discussing the implications of anti-asexual bias in clinical settings and the provision of culturally safe and affirmative care for asexual people.