Abstract

Current literature suggests that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA) athletic trainers encounter difficulties in their workplace given their status as minorities. Previous studies have examined the attitudes of athletic trainers towards LGBTQIA patients but have not looked into attitudes of athletic trainers and coaches towards LGBTQIA athletic trainers. However, in order to effectively assess these attitudes, it is important to have a valid and reliable instrument to do so. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the scores on the LGB-KASH and Shortened Workplace Incivility Scale among credentialed athletic trainers in the state of Texas. A total of 42 credentialed athletic trainers participated in this study (age= 33 ± 10 years, certified experience = 11 ± 10 years). Participants were sent an electronic survey by email that gathered data on demographics, LGB-KASH scores, and Shortened Workplace Incivility Scale scores. Measures of central tendency (means, standard deviations, frequencies) were calculated for all survey items. Pearson Correlations were used to assess correlations between age, years of experiences, all subcategories of the LGB-KASH, and the Shortened Workplace Incivility Scale. An independent samples t-test was performed to determine differences between responses from heterosexual participants and gay, lesbian, and bisexual participants. Data analysis yielded several significant correlations. There was a low positive correlation between age and the Hate subcategory, and a low negative correlation between age and the Civil Rights subcategory. There was also a high negative correlation between the Hate subcategory and the Civil Rights subcategory. There were also significant differences between groups in the Knowledge, Religious Conflicts, and Internalized Affirmation subcategories. There were no significant differences in the Hate or Civil Rights subcategories, or on the Shortened Workplace Incivility Scale. Future research should examine the causes of the correlations described in this pilot study. Future research should also be directed towards examining the impact of lack of education and knowledge of LGBTQIA individuals and the issues they encounter on feelings of discomfort and self-consciousness.