Date of Award

Winter 2-11-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD)

Department

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor/Committee Member

Keyne Law

Second Advisor/Committee Member

Joel Jin

Third Advisor/Committee Member

Paul Youngbin Kim

Abstract

This study reports on the results of a mixed method analysis on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ microaggressions experienced at a non-affirming Free Methodist affiliated university campus. The impact of religiously based LGBTQIA+ microaggressions on religion-sexuality conflict and, in turn strength of religious faith and sexual identity distress was examined. Further, I explored whether racial identity moderated the relationship between religiously based LGBTQIA+ microaggressions and sexual identity distress. Participants (N = 248) included students, faculty, and staff identifying as LGBTQIA+. Quantitative results suggested that that greater religion-sexuality conflict was associated with greater strength of religious faith (B = .239, p = .001) and sexual identity distress (B = .400, p = .000). Greater experiences of microaggressions were related to stronger strength of religious faith (B = .170, p = .008). Strength of religious faith and sexual identity distress were correlated (B = .122, p = .000). Post hoc analysis was conducted to explore religion-sexuality conflict as a possible mediator between strength of religious faith and sexual identity distress. Supporting the notion of a mediated model, there was a statistically significant indirect effect (B = .069, SE = .026, p = .008, 95CI [.021, .124]) in combination with a significant direct effect (B = .162, SE = .042, p = .000, 95CI [.080, .245]) and a statistically significant total effect (B = .231, SE = .049, p = .000, 95CI [.134, .326]). The model accounted for 27% of the variance in sexual identity distress. Qualitative results were analyzed using CQ-R methods and 8 domains were identified - including identities as inauthentic, religious-spiritual tolerance, identities as incompatible, emotional impact, not out, in response to coming out, environmental, and standout. Findings show that religion and sexuality are both important facets of people's lives and when in conflict contribute to identity distress and greater engagement with one's faith. This sample is pulled from one university in the pacific northwest, so results should be interpreted with that context in mind. Overall, findings emphasize the importance of addressing religion-sexuality conflict as a pathway for reducing distress for LGBTQ+ individuals in religious spaces

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