How Can Sexual and Gender Minority Latter-day Saints Resolve Identity Conflict and Improve Their Mental Health? Results From a 2- to 4-Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) clients who are raised in conservative religious traditions often find themselves caught between competing narratives about how to best improve mental health and resolve conflict between their sexual/gender and religious identities. In an effort to guide these individuals and the therapists who serve them, we present longitudinal data from 359 sexual and gender minority individuals raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e., SGM Latter-day Saints). These data, gathered at baseline in 2020 or 2022 and then again 2 and/or 4 years later in 2022 and/or 2024, answer the question “What can I do today that is most likely to yield positive mental health and conflict resolution in the future?” All analyses were preregistered prior to data collection of the most recent longitudinal wave. Bivariate analyses between baseline variables and depression/conflict resolution in 2024 suggest that (a) self-compassion, (b) social support, (c) authentic religious engagement, (d) reduced internalized homonegativity, (e) outness, and (f) seeing masturbation as more acceptable were all related to subsequent alleviated depression or enhanced conflict resolution. Regression analyses conducted separately for conflict resolution and depression suggest that only self-compassion, internalized homonegativity, and authentic religious engagement emerged as indicators of subsequent depression or conflict resolution. These findings suggest that the most important actions SGM individuals can take today to have better mental health and less conflict in 2 or 4 years include developing compassionate stances toward themselves, reducing stigmatizing views of themselves, and engaging authentically with their faith (if applicable).