Identity Affirmation and Mental Health among Sexual Minorities: A Raised-Mormon Sample

Bridges, James G.; Lefevor, G. Tyler; Schow, Ronald L.; Rosik, Christopher H.

doi:10.1080/1550428x.2019.1629369

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Although a modest literature explores mental health among LDS SMs (Dehlin et al, 2014; Jacobsen & Wright, 2014; Joseph & Cranney, 2018; Lefevor, Beckstead et al, 2019), we know of only two studies that have examined SI in this population, and these studies yielded conflicting findings. Bridges et al (2019) found differences in SI between active LDS and nonactive/former LDS individuals ( N = 530) among men but not among women. In contrast, McGraw (2020) found that nonactive/former LDS individuals reported more suicidal thoughts and behaviors than active LDS individuals ( N = 274).…”

Section: Risks Resources and Si Among Lds Smsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Minority stress variables include both distal (i.e., “objective events and conditions”; Meyer, 2003, p. 681) and proximal stressors (“personal processes, which are by definition subjective”; Meyer, 2003, p. 681) and are thought to be general risks for SI among LDS SMs (Lefevor, Blaber et al, 2019). For example, discrimination and violence are often associated with more SI (Sutter & Perrin, 2016), while being out or having stronger SM identity acceptance has been associated with less SI (Bridges et al, 2019).…”

Section: Risks Resources and Si Among Lds Smsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of the beliefs that comprise internalized homonegativity scales (e.g., “I believe that it is morally wrong for men to have sex with other men;” Mayfield, 2001) may be espoused by conservatively religious SMs as an indicator of their r/s (Grey et al, 2013). Because this r/s may facilitate access to support, it is possible that internalized homonegativity—at least as it is most typically measured—may be less strongly associated with SI among active LDS SMs (Bridges et al, 2019; McGraw 2020). Similarly, it is plausible that engagement with the LGBTQ community—a variable that is consistently found to be health‐protective among SMs generally (Meyer, 2003)—may be less strongly associated with SI among active LDS SMs as such engagement may constitute a deviation in loyalty to LDS SM religious communities.…”

Section: Minority Stress and R/s As Group‐specific Risks/resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, church leaders regularly and publicly criticize SM movements, values, and behaviors, and have used official resources to offer legal support against legislation or court cases regarding SM rights (e.g., same‐sex marriage). Perhaps as a result, both quantitative and qualitative research affirms that LDS SMs often experience psychological and interpersonal distress, including SI, from their engagement with their faith (Bridges et al, 2019; Dehlin et al, 2015; Jacobsen & Wright, 2014; McGraw et al, 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Suicidal ideation among active and nonactive/former Latter‐day Saint sexual minorities

Lefevor

McGraw

Skidmore

2021

Journal Community Psychology

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Sexual minorities (SMs) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) experience a number of unique risks related to their religious/spiritual and SM experience that may increase their likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation (SI) and ultimately dying by suicide. However, it is unclear which aspects of these experiences are responsible for elevated SI. It is further unclear whether religiousness/ spirituality and minority stress relate to SI similarly for active and nonactive/former LDS SMs. To address this gap, we examined data from 602 active and nonactive/former LDS SMs. Active and nonactive LDS SMs reported similar degrees of SI and minority stress but differing degrees of religiousness/spirituality with active LDS SMs reporting more religiousness/spirituality than nonactive/former LDS SMs. Several variables were associated with increased SI in both groups including positive religious coping, interpersonal religious struggles, internalized homonegativity, and concealment. Other variables were associated with decreased SI in both groups including resolving conflict between sexual and religious identities, family support, and friend support. Our results suggest that whether LDS SMs are active in their faith is an important factor to consider when understanding how religiousness/spirituality and minority stress relate to SI.

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Section: Risks Resources and Si Among Lds Smsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Risks Resources and Si Among Lds Smsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Minority Stress and R/s As Group‐specific Risks/resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Suicidal ideation among active and nonactive/former Latter‐day Saint sexual minorities

Lefevor

McGraw

Skidmore

2021

Journal Community Psychology

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“…Specifically, we wondered about how belonging to either or both a LGBTQ group and or LDS/non-LDS group, may impact suicidal thoughts, plans, or past attempts. Past research has suggested that at least among sexual minority adults who were raised LDS, remaining active in this faith tradition was associated with more suicidal thoughts (see Bridges et al, 2019). Therefore, we wondered if LDS LGBTQ students would be at greater risk for suicide than non-LDS LGBTQ youth, LDS heterosexual/cisgender youth, and non-LDS heterosexual/cisgender youth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family, faith, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among LGBTQ youth in Utah.

McGraw¹,

Docherty²,

Chinn³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Utah ranks fifth in the nation for suicide and has experienced a rapid increase in youth deaths by suicide over the last decade. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth in Utah may be at heightened risk, given the major presence and stances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding LGBTQ identities and relationships. However, no research has yet examined the differences in or predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs; i.e., suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts) among LGBTQ youth in Utah. Using a large representative sample of Utah middle and high schoolers (n = 73,982), we found that Latter-day Saint (LDS) and non-LDS LGBTQ groups reported greater levels of STBs than heterosexual/cisgender youth, with non-LDS LGBTQ youth reporting the highest levels of STBs, followed by LDS LGBTQ youth. Path-analyses demonstrated that LGBTQ participants' reports of higher family conflict and lower parental closeness were tied to higher depression, self-harm, and substance misuse, and these three factors were, in turn, associated with higher levels of STBs for LGBTQ youth in Utah. This path model did not differ significantly due to LDS versus non-LDS religious affiliation. Findings suggest that LGBTQ youth in Utah would be well served if clinicians and advocacy groups pay attention to the ways that religious affiliation and family dynamics might indirectly lead to STBs among adolescents. Public Significance StatementThis study found that both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint LGBTQ youth are at higher risk for experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their heterosexual or cisgender peers. Additionally, for LGBTQ youth, higher levels of family conflict and lower levels of parental closeness were related to more depression, substance misuse, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. These findings demonstrate the potential familial and religious risks that LGBTQ youth may experience in Utah.

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Unpacking the Internalized Homonegativity–Health Relationship: How the Measurement of Internalized Homonegativity and Health Matter and the Contribution of Religiousness

et al. 2022

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Identity Affirmation and Mental Health among Sexual Minorities: A Raised-Mormon Sample

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

Suicidal ideation among active and nonactive/former Latter‐day Saint sexual minorities

Suicidal ideation among active and nonactive/former Latter‐day Saint sexual minorities

Family, faith, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among LGBTQ youth in Utah.

Unpacking the Internalized Homonegativity–Health Relationship: How the Measurement of Internalized Homonegativity and Health Matter and the Contribution of Religiousness

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