Sexual Orientation Beliefs Scale (SOBS): Adaptation and Validity Evidence in the Brazilian Context

Introduction The main purpose of this study was to adapt the SOBS-Form 2 (SOBS-F2) in the Brazilian context and to examine its validity.Methods This study included two national surveys with two independent samples (Sample A, N = 868, data collection conducted in March 2022; Sample B, N = 1038, data collection conducted from July to August 2022). The materials used were a version of the SOBS-F2 adapted to the Brazilian context, a scale to measure sexual prejudice, and a questionnaire on the participants' sociodemographic characteristics.Results The results of exploratory factor analysis in Sample A showed that the original structure of the scale was maintained in the Brazilian sample. The results of confirmatory factor analysis in Sample B attested to the replication of the same model, which presented satisfactory fit indices. Analyses of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity in both samples also showed that all factors of the SOBS adapted version (SOBS-F2A) were associated with correlated variables, as indicated in the literature.Conclusions Altogether, these results show that the SOBS-F2A presented good validity evidence. By confirming the replication of the model proposed by the original SOBS-F2, this study enhances knowledge regarding different types of essentialist beliefs about sexual orientation and provides an instrument with good psychometric properties for measuring these beliefs in the Brazilian context.Policy Implications This work broadens knowledge in this field, and it has implications for practical work, such as counselling psychology and psychotherapy, educational interventions, advocacy work, and policy-making.