“I feel like God doesn't like me”: Faith and Ambiguous Loss Among Transgender Youth

Abstract

Objective The present study expands the use of ambiguous loss theory into the realm of religion and religious rejection for sexual‐ and gender‐minority people, an area that has previously been addressed primarily as an issue of minority stress. Background Research has demonstrated that religion‐based, nonaffirming messaging from family and faith communities is correlated with decreased health and well‐being of sexual‐ and gender‐minority persons, who are, like most Americans, likely to have been raised in religious (predominately Christian) homes. Existing research has begun to explain why nonaffirming faith affiliation seems to negatively impact sexual gender minority people, but it does not explain the mechanisms of long‐term distress. Methods This study is a qualitative thematic analysis of religion and family data from semistructured interviews with 63 transgender youth from the United States, Canada, and Ireland who reported being raised in religious Christian homes. Results Analysis revealed that the narratives of participants who had been members of a psychological family of faith included all of the core elements of ambiguous loss, suggesting that individuals can experience ambiguous loss in relationship to a faith community and to God. Discussion This study presents a new application of Boss's ambiguous loss theory and offers a framework for understanding why sexual‐ and gender‐minority people from Christian backgrounds might experience long‐term distress in relation to faith and spirituality whether they stay in their faith communities of origin or move on to something else. Implications The experiences of transgender people examined through the framework of ambiguous loss and the concept of the psychological family of faith could be applied to research with people from any demographic in relation to loss of faith or faith community. This information may contribute to the study of family ruptures that occur as a result of family experiences of ideological or moral incompatibility (e.g., deconversion, political realignment, leaving a cult).

An Integrated Conceptual Model to Understand Suicidality among Queer Youth to Inform Suicide Prevention

“…If families force queer youth into sexual orientation change efforts (e.g., conversion therapy), research suggests they will be at a higher risk for depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in their lifetime [ 93 , 94 ]. Feelings of thwarted belongingness may arise in queer youth if subjected to sexual orientation change efforts [ 93 ], discrimination [ 95 ], and violence [ 83 ], depending on their levels and the types of relationships and social support queer youth have in their lives [ 49 ].…”

“…Some studies show that religious affiliation can also moderate the discrimination-depression relationship among queer youth [ 92 ] and lead to positive mental health outcomes if messages on same-sex relations are affirming [ 95 ]. Queer youth religious affiliations with denominations that endorse same-sex marriages can mitigate the harmful effects of discrimination and depression symptomology [ 92 , 95 ].…”

“…Some studies show that religious affiliation can also moderate the discrimination-depression relationship among queer youth [ 92 ] and lead to positive mental health outcomes if messages on same-sex relations are affirming [ 95 ]. Queer youth religious affiliations with denominations that endorse same-sex marriages can mitigate the harmful effects of discrimination and depression symptomology [ 92 , 95 ]. Depressive symptoms are a risk factor for suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicide attempts among queer youth [ 83 ], therefore religious affiliations promoting and supporting sexual minorities can mitigate suicide risk.…”

The association between religiosity and resilience among young trans women

“…Some religious institutions have promoted the use of “conversion therapy” for transgender youth, resulting in massive psychological and physical damage and increasing suicide risk for those who are coerced into participating [ 37 ]. Furthermore, transphobic doctrine preached by some religious leaders have caused many transgender youth to internalize transphobia resulting in adverse mental health consequences [ 38 ]. Even in religious communities that are accepting of lesbian, gay, and queer identities, some transgender individuals report that they continue to be excluded due to their gender identity [ 39 ].…”

Exploring the Experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in Accessing a Trans Knowledgeable Primary Care Physician

“…Another study explored the impact of religious loss or rejection from a grief framework, noting that many TGD individuals feel that they must choose between their faith and their gender. This forced decision to give up religion may cause psychological distress [ 45 ]. Much more research is necessary to understand the associations between health and religiosity among TGD individuals.…”