Factors Affecting the Social Distance toward Sexual Minorities of nursing students

Objectives The purpose of this study is to verify the influence of human rights awareness and knowledge of sexual minorities on social distance from sexual minorities of nursing students. Methods The participants of this study are 145 nursing students enrolled in the Department of Nursing at a university located in Province C. Data were collected from May 27 to June 28, 2024. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 23.0 program, using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one way-ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchecal multiple regression. Results First, the human rights awareness showed a positive correlation with their knowledge of sexual minorities and social distance from sexual minorities, and their knowledge of sexual minorities was confirmed to have a positive correlation with social distance from sexual minorities. Second, human rights awareness and knowledge of sexual minorities were confirmed to be factors affecting the subjects' social distance from sexual minorities in that order. The total explanatory power of these variables for social distance from sexual minorities was 38%. Conclusions This study shows that in order to reduce social distance from sexual minorities among nursing students, it is necessary to develop a systematic program to increase human rights awareness and knowledge about sexual minorities.