Development and psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the homophobia scale among university students

Abstract

Despite increasing global awareness and tolerance toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, homophobia remains a pervasive issue, including within the Chinese context. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Homophobia Scale (HS) to provide a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing homophobic attitudes among university students in China. A total of 609 students participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor structure across the 25-item scale. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.933). Second-order CFA confirmed strong inter-factor correlations and a satisfactory model fit. These findings support the reliability and construct validity of the Chinese HS, highlighting its potential for research and intervention. Future studies are encouraged to explore the scale’s applicability across broader regions and demographic groups within China.