ABSTRACT

In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between nursing students' level of attachment to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex (LGBTI) social media phenomenon (SMP) and their attitudes towards LGBTI individuals. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 265 students who voluntarily participated in the Nursing Department of a State University in the 2022-2023 academic year. The data were collected with a questionnaire form prepared by the researchers by examining the literature, the Attitude Towards LGBTI Individuals Scale, and the Scale of Opinion Leadership of SMP in the Perception of Followers. Results: The mean age of the nursing students participating in the study was 20.87 ± 1.75 and 85.7% of them were female. A weak negative correlation was found between the ªOtheringº and ªIllnessº sub-dimensions of the Attitude Towards LGBTI Individuals Scale and the ªFunº sub-dimension of the SMP Opinion Leadership Scale. Weak negative correlations were found between the `extremism' sub-dimension of the Attitude Towards LGBTI Individuals Scale and the ªClosenessº, ªTrustº, ªFunº sub-dimensions and total score of the SMP Opinion Leadership Scale. It was found that the sub-dimensions and total score of the Attitude Towards LGBTI Individuals Scale showed a significant difference according to the variables of being female, not having any belief and mother's education level (p < .05). There is a significant difference between the ªFunº sub-dimension of the SMP Opinion Leadership Scale and the variables of being female, having a high level of mother's education, having a high economic level, and between the ªClosenessº sub-dimension and being female. As a result, nursing students who follow LGBTI phenomena on social media for entertainment purposes follow the phenomena without othering them, without seeing them as patient, without thinking that they are excessive, while students who feel close to LGBTI phenomena and follow them with trust follow them without thinking that LGBTI individuals are excessive. It is thought that the interaction of nursing students with LGBTI phenomenon in patient care is effective in developing more positive attitudes towards LGBTI individuals.