A Theory of Sexual-Spiritual Development: A Qualitative Study
Class
Article
Department
Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology
Faculty Mentor
Jessica Lucero
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
In recent years, increased public and scholarly attention has been paid to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as LDS or Mormon) who engage in mixed orientation marriages in which a homosexual individual pursues a marriage with a member of the opposite sex. Previous research indicates that integrating sexual identity development, spirituality, and religiosity can be difficult for LGBT individuals who have been marginalized by some religions -this marginalization can cause tension with their spirituality and homosexuality (Sheridan, 2011). Using a modified grounded theory, this exploratory qualitative research examines the developmental process of integrating one's homosexual identity with one's religiousness or spirituality. Emerging from the data were six sexual-spiritual developmental stages. Additionally, I explore common coping strategies associated with this difficult process of sexual-spiritual development. Implications for this theory are discussed in terms of social work practice and the person-in-environment perspective.
Start Date
4-9-2015 11:00 AM
A Theory of Sexual-Spiritual Development: A Qualitative Study
In recent years, increased public and scholarly attention has been paid to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as LDS or Mormon) who engage in mixed orientation marriages in which a homosexual individual pursues a marriage with a member of the opposite sex. Previous research indicates that integrating sexual identity development, spirituality, and religiosity can be difficult for LGBT individuals who have been marginalized by some religions -this marginalization can cause tension with their spirituality and homosexuality (Sheridan, 2011). Using a modified grounded theory, this exploratory qualitative research examines the developmental process of integrating one's homosexual identity with one's religiousness or spirituality. Emerging from the data were six sexual-spiritual developmental stages. Additionally, I explore common coping strategies associated with this difficult process of sexual-spiritual development. Implications for this theory are discussed in terms of social work practice and the person-in-environment perspective.