title: Discrimination and depressive symptoms among sexual minority youth: is gay-affirming religious affiliation a protective factor?
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.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706-1510, USA, gattis@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Maurice N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Gattis
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Woodford
authors.forename: Yoonsun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D063509:Homophobia; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008913:Minority Groups; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D065840:Protective Factors; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D014495:Universities