Title

The Religious Experience of Sexual Minority Youth: Identity, Integration and Minority Stress

Date of Award:

5-2009

Degree Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Educational Specialist (EdS)

Department:

Psychology

Advisor/Chair:

Renee V. Galliher

Abstract

Recent researchers have highlighted the need to consider the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individual's experience in various social contexts. Only a few studies have examined LGBTQ adolescent and young adult religious experiences. In the current study, 106 LGBTQ adolescent and young adults (18-24 years) were surveyed to gain a better understanding of LGBTQ religious experience, identity integration and the relationship between LGBTQ religiosity and psychosocial outcomes. A multidimensional understanding of LGBTQ religious experiences is presented; participants exhibited a propensity to disidentify with religion and reported religious and sexual identity conflict. While participants did not report a high degree of religious and sexual identity integration, factors related to successful identity integration are presented. Finally, levels of reported depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and minority stress are discussed with suggestions for future research.

Copyright for this work is retained by the student.