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. 2013 Dec 1;23(4):10.1111/jora.12025.
doi: 10.1111/jora.12025.

The Role of Religion and Stress in Sexual Identity and Mental Health Among LGB Youth

Matthew J L Page  1 , Kristin M Lindahl, Neena M Malik
Affiliations

The Role of Religion and Stress in Sexual Identity and Mental Health Among LGB Youth

Matthew J L Page et al. J Res Adolesc. .

Abstract

This study investigated religious stress, gay-related stress, sexual identity, and mental health outcomes in lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents and emerging adults. The model examined negative LGB identity as a mediator of the relationships between a) religious stress and mental health, and b) gay-related stress and mental health. The data indicated that negative LGB identity fully accounted for both relationships. Findings suggest that a negative sense of sexual identity for LGB youth helps explain the links between religious and gay-related stressors and mental health. As LGB youth may have limited control over these stressors, the importance of helping LGB youth maintain a positive LGB identity, despite homonegative messages from others, is discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Final model depicting relations among religious stress, gay-related stress, negative LGB identity, and mental health outcomes, using standardized path estimates. Significant correlations between indicator residual variances are not shown. Age was a significant covariate of gay-related stress and depression; relationships not depicted. Time since coming was a significant covariate of difficult process, spiritual comfort, family reactions, and visibility with school/public; these relationships not depicted. * p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001
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