Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Youth: Is Gay-Affirming Religious Affiliation a Protective Factor?
- Authors
- Gattis, MN[Gattis, Maurice N.]; Woodford, MR[Woodford, Michael R.]; Han, Y[Han, Yoonsun]
- Issue Date
- Nov-2014
- Citation
- ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, v.43, no.8, pp.1589 - 1599
- Indexed
- SSCI
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
- Volume
- 43
- Number
- 8
- Start Page
- 1589
- End Page
- 1599
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/skku/handle/2021.sw.skku/51093
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10508-014-0342-y
- ISSN
- 0004-0002
- Abstract
- Researchers have examined perceived discrimination as a risk factor for depression among sexual minorities; however, the role of religion as a protective factor is under-investigated, especially among sexual minority youth. Drawing on a cross-sectional study investigating campus climate at a large public university in the U. S. midwest, we examined the role of affiliation with a gay-affirming denomination (i.e., endorsing same-sex marriage) as a moderating factor in the discrimination-depression relationship among self-identified sexual minority (n=393) and heterosexual youth (n=1,727). Using multivariate linear regression analysis, religious affiliation was found to moderate the discrimination-depression relationship among sexual minorities. Specifically, the results indicated that the harmful effects of discrimination among sexual minority youth affiliated with denominations that endorsed same-sex marriage were significantly less than those among peers who affiliated with denominations opposing same-sex marriage or who identified as secular. In contrast, religious affiliation with gay-affirming denominations did not moderate the discrimination-depression relationship among heterosexual participants. The findings suggest that, although religion and same-sex sexuality are often seen as incompatible topics, it is important when working with sexual minority clients for clinicians to assess religious affiliation, as it could be either a risk or a protective factor, depending on the religious group's stance toward same-sex sexuality. To promote the well-being of sexual minority youth affiliated with denominations opposed to same-sex marriage, the results suggest these faith communities may be encouraged to reconsider their position and/or identify ways to foster youth's resilience to interpersonal discrimination.
- Files in This Item
- There are no files associated with this item.
- Appears in
Collections - Social Sciences > Department of Child Psychology and Education > 1. Journal Articles
Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.