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Alckmin-Carvalho F, Oliveira A, Silva P, Cruz M, Nichiata L, Pereira H. Religious Affiliation, Internalized Homonegativity and Depressive Symptoms: Unveiling Mental Health Inequalities among Brazilian Gay Men. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:1167. [PMID: 39338050 PMCID: PMC11431384 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21091167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Different religious narratives associate same-sex sexuality, in its various manifestations, with moral deviation or sin. Gay men who are socialized in more religious communities appear to experience and internalize greater levels of homonegativity, as well as to present greater indicators of depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate indicators of perceived homonegativity in the community and internalized, and signs/symptoms of depression reported by Brazilian gay men with a nominal religion and compare them to those reported by Atheists or Agnostics. METHOD Our sample comprised 194 Brazilian gay men, distributed into three groups: Christians (Protestants and Catholics, n = 71; 36.6%); Spiritualists (Kardecists or religions of African origin, n = 52; 26.8%) and Atheists or Agnostics (n = 71; 36.6%). The following measurement instruments were used: sociodemographic questionnaire, Internalized Homophobia Scale and Beck Depression Scale. RESULTS High mean scores of depression were verified in all groups, and 60% of the sample presented some level of depression. There was a higher level of self-reported homonegativity among Christians and Spiritualists compared to that reported by Atheists or Agnostics, with the differences between the groups being significant. The regression analysis indicated a significant effect of religion on homonegativity, but not on depression. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that gay men's chronic exposure to non-affirming religious affiliation contexts may harm the construction of a positive gay identity and should be taken into consideration when addressing mental health inequalities of sexual minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
- School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01239-020, Brazil
| | - António Oliveira
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Patricia Silva
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Madalena Cruz
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Lúcia Nichiata
- School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01239-020, Brazil
| | - Henrique Pereira
- Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Gibbs JJ, O'Shields J, DeVane R, Purcell A. Religious Identity Dissonance: Examining the Path of Religious Factors to Depression in Sexual Minority Men in the USA. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2024; 63:2981-2997. [PMID: 38517583 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-024-02025-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Little is known about the religious factors that contribute to religious identity dissonance (ID) for sexual minority men. Our aim was to model the path of religious factors to depression symptoms through ID and internalized stigma (IS). US sexual minority men (N = 168) participated in a survey about religious factors and mental health. Serial mediation of religious factors through ID and IS to depression symptoms was assessed using Hayes PROCESS macro. Results indicate that two religious factors significantly increase depression through ID and IS. Negative parental religious messages about LGBTQ people play a meaningful role in ID and increasing depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Gibbs
- School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Jay O'Shields
- School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ryan DeVane
- School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Anna Purcell
- School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Green J, Gibbs JJ. LGBTQ+ Sociopolitical Engagement: Examining the Role of House Ball Community Involvement and LGBTQ+ Community Connection. SOCIAL WORK 2024; 69:255-263. [PMID: 38832397 DOI: 10.1093/sw/swae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Recent events such as the Black Lives Matter movement, COVID-19, and political elections have highlighted the power of a socially and politically engaged society. One under-researched cultural pillar at the core of sociopolitical resistance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people of color (POC) has been the House Ball Community, a dynamic subculture made up of intricate social networks. This study uses data collected for the Social Justice Sexuality Project (N = 246) to examine LGBTQ+ community connection and House Ball Community involvement as predictors of LGBTQ+ and intersectional LGBTQ+ sociopolitical engagement. Two continuous variables, community connection and sociopolitical engagement (consisting of separate scales about LGBTQ+ individuals and LGBTQ+ POC), were included in the analysis. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between these variables. While community connection was significantly associated with both scales of sociopolitical engagement, House Ball involvement was only associated with intersectional LGBTQ+ sociopolitical engagement. Relative to community connection, House Ball involvement was more strongly associated with intersectional LGBTQ+ sociopolitical engagement. Findings suggest that House Ball involvement may influence behavior for LGBTQ+ POC. Authors discuss implications for intersectionality in social movements and culturally responsive direct, community, and systems-level social work practice within the current U.S. sociopolitical landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Green
- Joy Green, MSW, is a PhD student, School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jeremy J Gibbs
- Jeremy J. Gibbs, PhD, LCSW, is assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Lefevor GT, Etengoff C, Davis EB, Skidmore SJ, Rodriguez EM, McGraw JS, Rostosky SS. Religion/Spirituality, Stress, and Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: The Religious/Spiritual Stress and Resilience Model. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:1537-1561. [PMID: 37369080 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231179137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Although many sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) consider themselves religious or spiritual, the impact of this religiousness or spirituality (RS) on their health is poorly understood. We introduce the religious/spiritual stress and resilience model (RSSR) to provide a robust framework for understanding the variegated ways that RS influences the health of SGMs. The RSSR bridges existing theorizing on minority stress, structural stigma, and RS-health pathways to articulate the circumstances under which SGMs likely experience RS as health promoting or health damaging. The RSSR makes five key propositions: (a) Minority stress and resilience processes influence health; (b) RS influences general resilience processes; (c) RS influences minority-specific stress and resilience processes; (d) these relationships are moderated by a number of variables uniquely relevant to RS among SGMs, such as congregational stances on same-sex sexual behavior and gender expression or an individual's degree of SGM and RS identity integration; and (e) relationships between minority stress and resilience, RS, and health are bidirectional. In this manuscript, we describe the empirical basis for each of the five propositions focusing on research examining the relationship between RS and health among SGMs. We conclude by describing how the RSSR may inform future research on RS and health among SGMs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edward B Davis
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College
| | | | - Eric M Rodriguez
- Social Science Department, New York City College of Technology, City University of New York
| | - James S McGraw
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University
| | - Sharon S Rostosky
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky
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Butler‐Barnes ST, Martin PP. Put it in God's hands: Understanding the complexities of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of Black youth. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pamela P. Martin
- Department of Psychology University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina USA
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Wolf JK, Platt LF. Religion and sexual identities. Curr Opin Psychol 2022; 48:101495. [PMID: 36423507 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Religion and sexuality have a complex, deep-rooted relationship. Religions often teach how aspects of sexuality should be conducted, typically promoting heterosexuality. Such discourse is at odds with a growing population using sexual minority identities. The tension between one's homonegative faith or religious environment and their sexual minority orientation can lead to poor health outcomes like psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Attempts to change sexual orientation to match religious expectations are futile and frequently harmful. However, sexual minority individuals can find health benefits if they are able to reconcile their religious and sexual identities or find accepting religious/spiritual communities. The COVID-19 pandemic and religious influence on US politics have also shaped the safety of environments for disclosing a sexual minority identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kay Wolf
- One UTSA Circle, College for Health, Community and Policy, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Lisa F Platt
- 504 Allen Hall, Counseling Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
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Coping Strategies to Enhance the Mental Wellbeing of Sexual and Gender Minority Youths: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148738. [PMID: 35886595 PMCID: PMC9319075 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Robust population-based research has established that sexual and gender minority youths (SGMYs) are at an increased risk of mental ill-health, but there is a dearth of literature that seeks to explore how to best support SGMY mental wellbeing. This scoping review aims to identify findings related to coping strategies and/or interventions for building resilience and/or enhancing the mental wellbeing of SGMYs. PRISMA extension for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines was utilized for this review. Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed papers containing primary data; reported psycho-social coping strategies for SGMY; were conducted with SGMYs in the adolescent age range; and were published in English. MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched. Of the 3692 papers initially identified, 68 papers were included with 24 intervention-focused studies of 17 unique interventions found. The most commonly cited therapeutic modality was cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (n = 11 studies). Despite the need to support the mental wellbeing of SGMYs, few interventions focused on this area and unique populations have been reported upon in the peer-reviewed literature. As a result, there is considerable potential to develop supports for SGMYs.
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Pérez-Sánchez B, Concha-Salgado A, Aburto-González V, Mandiola-Sandoval C, Muñoz-Henríquez C, Cerda-Muñoz D. Religiosity, abortion stigma and the mediating effect of gender attitudes. A study in the Chilean population ( Religiosidad, estigma del aborto, y el efecto mediador de las actitudes de género. Un estudio en población chilena). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/02134748.2022.2034290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Schrager SM, Mamey MR, Rhoades H, Goldbach JT. Adolescent stress experiences over time study (ASETS) protocol: design and methods of a prospective longitudinal study of sexual minority adolescents in the USA. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e054792. [PMID: 35264352 PMCID: PMC8915334 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sexual minority adolescents (SMA) report higher rates of anxiety, self-harm, depression and suicide than heterosexual peers. These disparities appear to persist into adulthood and may worsen for certain subgroups, yet the mechanisms that drive these concerns remain poorly understood. Minority stress theory, the predominant model for understanding these disparities, posits that poorer outcomes are due to the stress of living in a violently homophobic and discriminatory culture. Although numerous studies report associations between minority stress and behavioural health in adolescence, no study has comprehensively examined how minority stress may change throughout the course of adolescence, nor how stress trajectories may predict health outcomes during this critical developmental period. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Between 15 May 2018 and 1 April 2019, we recruited a US national sample of diverse SMA (n=2558) age 14-17 through social media and respondent-driven sampling strategies. A subset of participants (n=1076) enrolled in the longitudinal component and will be followed each 6 months until 1 July 2022. Primary outcomes include symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder; suicidality and self-harm and substance use. The key predictor is minority stress, operationalised as the Sexual Minority Adolescent Stress Inventory. We will use parallel cohort-sequential latent growth curve models to test study hypotheses within a developmental framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION All participants provided assent to participate, and longitudinal participants provided informed consent at the first follow-up survey after reaching age 18. All study procedures were reviewed and approved by the University of Southern California Social-Behavioral Institutional Review Board, including a waiver of parental permission given the potential for harm due to unintentional 'outing' to a parent during the consent process. The final anonymous data set will be available on request, and research findings will be disseminated through academic channels and products tailored for the lay community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheree M Schrager
- California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, California, USA
| | - Mary Rose Mamey
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Harmony Rhoades
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jeremy T Goldbach
- The Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Abstract
AbstractStudies on sexuality in Italy conducted in recent decades show a significant relationship between adherence to Catholicism and sexual behavior. Yet, the last 20 years has also seen an acceleration in the decline of young practicing Catholics, and more and more young people do not follow Catholic teachings regarding sex. We assess whether and in which direction the association between sex and religion has changed by comparing two identical surveys of national samples of Italian university students carried out in 2000 and 2017. We test two sides of a same hypotheses: a weakening vs. a strengthening of the relationship between religion and several sexual behaviors/opinions on sexuality. We find that the reduced proportion of young Catholics has not been accompanied by a strengthened adherence to Catholic sexual morality: today religious youth are more similar to the non-religious than they were at the beginning of the twenty-first century. However, especially among individuals who are single and women, the differences between more or less religious young people continue to be relevant. Thus, despite a weakening of the relationship between sexuality and religion, it is too early to pronounce an end of “Catholic” sexuality in Italy.
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Schnitker SA, Medenwaldt JM, Williams EG. Religiosity in adolescence. Curr Opin Psychol 2020; 40:155-159. [PMID: 33176270 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Person-centered approaches to religious development across adolescence reveal diverse trajectories of change, which are differentially subject to environmental and genetic influences. Studies support the robust protective effects of religiosity on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, some specific religious beliefs may predict poor adjustment. Evidence also suggests adolescent religiosity may exacerbate sexual identity conflicts and increase prejudice toward proscribed outgroups. Researchers demonstrate robust mediating effects of effortful control for explaining religiosity's influence on outcomes, and approaches to establish mediation through assessment intraindividual variability in the daily dynamics of religiosity and positive outcomes are promising. Inclusion of non-Western, non-Christian samples has allowed scholars to begin identifying the universal versus culturally specific elements of religiosity trajectories and processes in adolescence.
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