Factors Related to LGBT Recognition for University Students and Employed Adults

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate Japanese students and employed adults’ characteristic features, and sexual situation, and to find the correlated factors of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) recognition in order to obtain suggestions for improved relationships with sexual minorities in a diversifying society. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional descriptive correlational study occurred during 2018 to 2019 when 2210 questionnaires were distributed to a purposive sample of eligible participants. A total of 1534 completed questionnaires (69.4%) were returned, of which 1439 (65.1%) were suitable for analyses. The survey included respondents’ 1) characteristics, 2) sexual situation, and 3) LGBT recognition scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and structural equation modeling. SPSS ver. 26.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis at a 5% significance level. Results: The LGBT recognition score was significantly affected by suffering from gender identity (standardized partial regression coefficient: β = 0.17, p −0.19, p < 0.001), learning about LGBT experience (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), experience of disclosure from LGBT person (β = 0.14, p < 0.001), sexual problems with intimate relationship (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), and diversity penetration (β = 0.14, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Suffering from gender identity, learning about LGBT experience, experience of disclosure from LGBT person, sexual problem with intimate relationship, and diversity penetration had a positive effect, whereas age had negative effects on the LGBT recognition score.