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Welch_Chapter V FINAL-signed2.pdf (716.36 KB)

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Impact of Internalizing Sexual Stigma from Religious/Spiritual Sources on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals’ Identity Self-Discrepancies

Welch, Josh C
http://orcid.org/0009-0000-0565-9777
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1734110283255665

Abstract Details

2025, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
LGB+ individuals may tolerate prejudice from religious/spiritual (R/S) institutions in hopes of deriving some potential benefits or comfort from these institutions. When LGB+ individuals encounter sexual prejudice in R/S settings, they may experience difficulty developing and maintaining a healthy sexual and R/S identity. Additionally, if LGB+ individuals internalize the negative messages about their sexual identity from R/S sources, they may experience significant discord and distress further challenging their ability to develop a healthy sexual and R/S identity. Consequently, the purpose of the current study was to examine if unsupportive R/S experiences predict greater identity self-discrepancies (i.e., actual-ideal and actual-ought) among LGB+ individuals who have heightened internalized homonegativity. Two hundred LGB+ individuals ages 18–76 completed measures to assess the conflict or comfort they derive from R/S sources, the discrepancies between their actual, ideal, and ought sexual and R/S identities, and their levels of internalized homonegativity. Results revealed that the more LGB+ individuals experienced religion/spirituality as a source of conflict, the greater their actual-ideal self-discrepancy. Additionally, the more LGB+ individuals experienced religion/spirituality as a source of comfort, the smaller their actual-ideal and actual-ought self-discrepancies—with these associations particularly strong when LGB+ individuals internalized negative messages about their sexual identity. Thus, especially for LGB+ individuals who have internalized negative messages about their sexual identity, experiencing religion/spirituality as a source of comfort may help reduce identity challenges (and work toward identity integration).
Tammy Sonnentag, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Jennifer Phillips, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Cynthia Dulaney, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
86 p.
Glbt Studies; Psychology; Religion; Social Psychology; Spirituality
Religion; spirituality; religious; spiritual; identity; sexual identity; religious identity; spiritual identity; LGB; LGBT; LGBTQ; self-discrepancy; self discrepancy; self-discrepancy theory; self discrepancy theory; self-discrepancies; sexual stigma; internalized homonegativity; internalized homophobia; religious comfort; spiritual comfort

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Welch, J. C. (2025). Impact of Internalizing Sexual Stigma from Religious/Spiritual Sources on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals’ Identity Self-Discrepancies [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1734110283255665

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Welch, Josh. Impact of Internalizing Sexual Stigma from Religious/Spiritual Sources on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals’ Identity Self-Discrepancies. 2025. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1734110283255665.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Welch, Josh. "Impact of Internalizing Sexual Stigma from Religious/Spiritual Sources on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals’ Identity Self-Discrepancies." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2025. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1734110283255665

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xupsy1734110283255665
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This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.