Date of Award

12-2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Psychology

Abstract

A burgeoning vein of research assesses links between familial support and psychosocial health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. This study is a cross-sectional, multi-method survey that examined these associations in highly religious families. Participants were 587 individuals who identified as LGBTQ, were affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), and were between the ages of 18 and 30. Reports of early support from families were significantly associated with various measures of psychosocial health, more consistently for men than women. In addition, participants provided written narratives in response to an open-ended question asking about the reactions of their parents, family members, and faith community when they disclosed their non-heterosexual orientation. Analyses yielded a continuum of reactions, 1) positive or affirming 2) a conditionally positive response 3) avoidance and/or lack of knowledge 4) distress and guilt and 5) anger or hostility. Within the non-affirming range of responses, subthemes emerged related to specific patterns of condemnation of the person's non-heterosexual identity, and coercion to change sexual orientation. Participants own words are used to provide depth to the observed themes.

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Faculty Mentor

Renee V. Galliher

Departmental Honors Advisor

Scott C. Bates

Capstone Committee Member

Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez