Religiousness and Minority Stress in Conservatively Religious Sexual Minorities: Lessons from Latter-day Saints

Lefevor, G. Tyler; Skidmore, Samuel J.; McGraw, James S.; Davis, Edward B.; Mansfield, Ty R.

doi:10.1080/10508619.2021.2008131

Cited by 24 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Consistent with prior research, LDS SMs experience high rates of SI (Chang et al, 2020; McGraw et al, 2020). This finding is likely due to SMs’ report of moderate rates of minority stressors, which have been consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., Lefevor, Skidmore, et al, 2021; Meyer, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This trend seems particularly prevalent among SMs in nonaffirming religions (religions that prohibit any same-sex relationships or sexual behaviors; Dahl & Galliher, 2012). However, it is not always the case, as some SMs in nonaffirming religions report religiousness to be health-protective (Lefevor et al, 2019) or to make no difference in their overall health (Lefevor, Skidmore, et al, 2021).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Religious sexual minorities, belongingness, and suicide risk: Does it matter where belongingness comes from?

Skidmore¹,

Lefevor²,

Golightly³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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Sexual minorities (SMs) experience a unique set of stressors as a result of their minority status that can lead to adverse mental health outcomes, including increased suicidal ideation (SI). A sense of belongingnessparticularly in sexual minority communities-has been shown to buffer these outcomes. It is less clear, however, how belongingness in communities that hold heteronormative values may relate to SI. The present study fills this gap through an analysis of data from 602 SM members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (CJCLDS; "Mormon" church). We examine how minority stressors and religiousness are related to SI for SMs and how a sense of belongingness in the CJCLDS and/or in SM communities may buffer SI. Results indicated that both minority stressors (e.g., concealment, internalized homonegativity [IH]), and religiousness (e.g., service attendance) were related to increased SI; however, a sense of belongingness in the CJCLDS was related to less SI. Interaction effects suggested that the presence of CJCLDS belongingness weakened the influence of IH on SI but strengthened the influence of concealment and service attendance on SI.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious sexual minorities, belongingness, and suicide risk: Does it matter where belongingness comes from?

Skidmore¹,

Lefevor²,

Golightly³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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“…All participants accessed the survey through the research team’s website and were offered $10 for participating. For a more complete description of sampling procedures and specific venues contacted, see Lefevor, Skidmore, et al (2022). To be included in the study, participants had to be at least 18 years old, identify as an SM (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer), and have completed the entirety of the survey.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Affirming and nonaffirming religious beliefs predicting depression and suicide risk among Latter-Day Saint sexual minorities.

McGraw¹,

Skidmore²,

Lefevor³

et al. 2023

Journal of Counseling Psychology

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Sexual minorities (SMs) who are current/former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDSs) report high levels of depression and risk for suicide. Recent research has suggested that specific LDS religious beliefs may be related to these negative mental health outcomes. Using two independent online samples of current/former LDS SMs (Sample 1 = 403; Sample 2 = 545), we tested associations of affirming/nonaffirming LDS beliefs with depression and suicide risk cross-sectionally (Sample 1), and then longitudinally (Sample 2) tested if religious/spiritual struggles and internalized stigma mediated these relationships. Cross-sectionally, nonaffirming LDS beliefs were associated with higher depression, but effects disappeared when religious/spiritual struggles and internalized stigma were entered in the model. Affirming LDS beliefs were unrelated to depression and suicide risk. Longitudinally, after including earlier levels of internalized stigma, religious/spiritual struggles, depression, and suicide risk as controls, nonaffirming beliefs indirectly predicted more depression 2 months later (Time 3) through internalized stigma at 1 month (Time 2). These results suggest LDS beliefs may play an important role in the development and experience of depression for LDS sexual minorities.

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“…LDS SMPs may be particularly vulnerable to minority stressors as the CJCLDS’s doctrines follow a heteronormative view and may be experienced as heterosexist, which may lead to SMPs experiencing discrimination, internalized homonegativity, and identity concealment (CJCLDS, 2016; Jacobsen & Wright, 2014). Indeed, LDS SMPs who report attending CJCLDS services more frequently are also more likely to report internalized homonegativity and concealment of their sexual identities (Lefevor, Skidmore, et al, 2021).…”

Section: The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We are scared of being kicked out of our religion!”: Common challenges and benefits for sexual minority latter-day saints.

Skidmore¹,

Lefevor²,

Larsen³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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This study explored common challenges and benefits reported by sexual minority people (SMP) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJCLDS). A sample of 438 SMP members of the CJCLDS responded to a qualitative survey that asked participants to identify the challenges and benefits of identifying as SMPs in their faith. Participants reported several common challenges to identifying as an SMP in the CJCLDS, including lack of belongingness, identity conflict/confusion, distal stressors, proximal stressors, religious/spiritual struggles, mental health problems, and sexuality struggles. Participants reported several common benefits including increased empathy or compassion, a sense of belonging and happiness, religious/spiritual improvements, and perspective/personal growth. The results suggest that some SMP members of the CJCLDS experience more religious and sexuality struggles as well as a lack of belongingness due to their intersecting identities, whereas others seem to benefit from their religious involvement and find a sense of belongingness. Therapists who work with SMPs in the CJCLDS, and potentially other SMPs in nonaffirming religions, should be aware of both the challenges and benefits reported by SMPs to help clients most effectively navigate difficulties arising from their intersecting identities. Public Significance StatementThis study suggests that Latter-day Saints (LDS) sexual minority people (SMPs) commonly experience both challenges and benefits as a result of their identities, although challenges are more common. Understanding the specific challenges and benefits most commonly reported by this population can contribute to understanding such individuals and assisting mental health professionals working with LDS SMPs and SMPs in nonaffirming religions more broadly.

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Religiousness and Minority Stress in Conservatively Religious Sexual Minorities: Lessons from Latter-day Saints

Cited by 24 publications

References 55 publications

Religious sexual minorities, belongingness, and suicide risk: Does it matter where belongingness comes from?

Religious sexual minorities, belongingness, and suicide risk: Does it matter where belongingness comes from?

Affirming and nonaffirming religious beliefs predicting depression and suicide risk among Latter-Day Saint sexual minorities.

“We are scared of being kicked out of our religion!”: Common challenges and benefits for sexual minority latter-day saints.

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