title: The LGB Mormon Paradox: Mental, Physical, and Self-Rated Health Among Mormon and Non-Mormon LGB Individuals in the Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
abstract: Much of the literature on mental and physical health among religious LGB individuals has relied on small-N convenience samples. This study takes advantage of a unique, large-N, population-based dataset to test the relationship between religious identity, religious activity, and health, with a specific emphasis on Utah Mormons. In a surprising finding, Mormon LGBs report better mental health than non-Mormon LGBs, while their self-rated and physical health is not significantly different. However, there is some evidence that Mormon LGBs derive fewer health benefits from church attendance than their non-LGB Mormon counterparts. These results may nuance the conventional wisdom regarding the health dynamics of LGB individuals who identify with a conservative, heteronormative religious tradition, and plausible explanations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for the Studies of Religion , Baylor University , Waco , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cranney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D001727:Bisexuality; D034682:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012071:Religion and Sex; D014589:Utah
keywords: Bisexuality; Mormon; gay; health disparities; religion; sexual orientation