Religious belief, age, and sexual orientation on attributions of younger and older gay and heterosexual men

Using 4 vignettes and 20 response items, this exploratory study investigated attributions about older or younger gay or heterosexual men with a history of multiple sex partners, substance abuse, and legal problems. The character is diagnosed with a terminal illness and two options for care: no treatment or an aggressive treatment protocol with a small chance of recovery. When controlling for respondents’ (N = 324) religious identification, frequency of attendance at religious services, and ethno-cultural identification, a General Linear Model was significant (F = 57.014, df = 20, p <.001). Differences in the vignette responses centred on perceptions of quality of life, the character's lifestyle, and suicide.