Cohort Differences in Tolerance of Homosexuality: Attitudinal Change in Canada and the United States, 1981-2000
2008/05/02 by R. Andersen, Robert Andersen, T. Fetner +1 · 447 citations
Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Attitude change #Cohort #Cohort effect #Cohort study #Demographic economics #Demography #Economics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics #General Social Survey #Homosexuality #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Law #Medicine #Political science #Politics #Population #Psychology #Public opinion #Social psychology #Sociology
paper · doi:10.1093/poq/nfn017
published in Public Opinion Quarterly 72(2), 311-330 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2008/05/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Abstract
Using data from the World Values Surveys, we explore trends in tolerance of homosexuality in Canada and the United States from 1981 to 2000. Particular attention is given to the effects of birth cohort. Consistent with previous research, we find that younger cohorts are typically the most tolerant of homosexuality. We also find that Canadians are more liberal than Americans. Most interesting, however, is the remarkable degree of change over time within cohorts, especially in Canada. These findings suggest that attitudes toward homosexuality during this period were an exception to the age-stability hypothesis, which claims that opinions on controversial social issues are formed by early adulthood, and change little with age. We speculate that differing political climate across country and time is responsible for the significant differences in public opinion.
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