A Quantitative Examination of Identity Integration in Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People of Faith

Abstract

Much of the religious/spiritual development of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals (GLBs) has focused on experiences of conflict and distress, providing little insight into how these identities can be integrated. The present study explored the religious and spiritual lives of GLBs with a specific focus on the integration of these identities. We conducted a retrospective secondary data analysis of 750 GLB individuals from the Northern California Health Study to quantitatively assess sexual orientation and religion/spirituality integration using hierarchical cluster analysis. Resulting MANCOVA analyses of the five revealed groupings (integrated, gay identity struggle, anti-religious/spiritual, secular, and low gay salience) present numerous statistically significant differences between these integration clusters and a variety of dependent variables including measures of demographics, religiosity/spirituality, gay identity, and multiple mental health outcomes. We discuss the implications of these findings while also making suggestions for future research.

Conflict between religious/spiritual and LGB identities in Portugal: How is it related to coming out experiences, LGB identity dimensions and well-being?

“…Regarding our exploratory analyses, significant differences were found based on gender and sexual orientation regarding conflict between religious and LGB identities, with men reporting higher levels of conflict than women, and gay men reporting higher levels of conflict than bisexual/pansexual individuals, but not lesbian women. Our findings seem to mirror previous research by Rodriguez et al (2019), who showed that gay and bisexual males accounted significantly more to those who reported to struggle with their identity when compared with other sexual orientations and genders. Taken together, these findings suggest that males, and more specifically gay and bisexual males, may be affected disproportionality by conflict between religiosity/spirituality and their identities.…”

“…The relationship between conflict and well-being (or its absence) is another common experience reported by LGB people in qualitative and quantitative studies. Some people describe the way it has affected their well-being (Coyle & Rafalin, 2000) and/or their quality of life and mental health, including experiences of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (Beagan & Hattie, 2015; Dehlin et al, 2015; Lefevor et al, 2018; Rodriguez et al, 2019; Schuck & Liddle, 2001; Subhi & Geelan, 2012; Zeidner & Zevulun, 2018). Some participants also reported the experience of negative feelings and emotional scars, even after the conflict has been solved (Subhi & Geelan, 2012).…”

“…The first strategy is found both in qualitative (Itzhaky & Kissil, 2015) and quantitative studies (Dehlin et al, 2015; Rodriguez et al, 2019), and is suggested to result in significant negative consequences for the person. In a sample of Orthodox Jewish gay men, participants described the negative emotions they felt when they realized they were gay, such as shame, guilt, disgust, and self-hatred.…”

“At its core, Islam is about standing with the oppressed”: Exploring transgender Muslims’ religious resilience.

“…In addition, Brewster, Velez, Foster, Esposito, and Robinson (2016) reported that the benefits of positive religious coping actually weakened the negative impact of internalized heterosexism for sexual minority participants in terms of psychological distress and well-being. On a larger quantitative scale, Rodriguez, Etengoff, and Vaughan (2019) studied the relation between religious and sexual identity integration and well-being outcomes among 750 gay, lesbian and bisexual participants from largely Judeo-Christian backgrounds. Finding that religiously integrated participants scored the highest on measures of positive affect and a sense of a benevolent world as compared to those struggling with their religious and sexual identities, those that identified as secular and those with a low gay salience score (Rodriguez et al, 2019).…”

“…On a larger quantitative scale, Rodriguez, Etengoff, and Vaughan (2019) studied the relation between religious and sexual identity integration and well-being outcomes among 750 gay, lesbian and bisexual participants from largely Judeo-Christian backgrounds. Finding that religiously integrated participants scored the highest on measures of positive affect and a sense of a benevolent world as compared to those struggling with their religious and sexual identities, those that identified as secular and those with a low gay salience score (Rodriguez et al, 2019).…”