Many church members who describe themselves as experiencing same-sex attraction assert that they are not gay or queer, according to a 2019 psychology study. Another study found that 53% of queer LDS respondents had abandoned their religious identity, which may suggest how unwelcome they felt. And one doctoral dissertation found that 86% of the LGBTQ Mormon respondents would likely meet the criteria to be diagnosed with PTSD.
https://religionnews.com/2022/12/07/ase ... -marriage/
I’m surprised it’s not higher than 53%. Especially given the more horrifying statistic that 86% of LGBTQ members of the Church are suffering from PTSD. And the Church and apologists think suicide rates amongst young people is primarily an altitude issue…
“The past no longer belongs only to those who once lived it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to
explore it, and to infuse it with meaning for those alive today.”—Margaret Atwood
Digging into the study a bit: I notice only 421 of the 1430 respondents consider themselves "active" (attend church at least once a month) members of the church. Only 30% activity rate sounds a little closer to what I might have expected.
He/Him
“If you consider what are called the virtues in mankind, you will find their growth is assisted by education and cultivation.”
― Xenophon
Digging into the study a bit: I notice only 421 of the 1430 respondents consider themselves "active" (attend church at least once a month) members of the church. Only 30% activity rate sounds a little closer to what I might have expected.
And still quite high, in my view.
“The past no longer belongs only to those who once lived it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to
explore it, and to infuse it with meaning for those alive today.”—Margaret Atwood
And one doctoral dissertation found that 86% of the LGBTQ Mormon respondents would likely meet the criteria to be diagnosed with PTSD.
That'd be by far the worst stat.
Bride (2007) identified three possible methods for interpreting scores from the STSS, two
of which were used to estimate likely PTSD prevalence for the study respondents. The first
method based on a recommended cutoff score of 38, with scores greater than 38 indicating a
likely PTSD diagnosis. Using this cutoff method, 86.0% (n=239) of the study participants would
78
have likely met criteria for PTSD diagnosis. The second method is an algorithm approach to
identify potential PTSD diagnosis based on DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria (APA, 2000). For
this method, a response of “occasionally,” “often,” or “very often” is interpreted as endorsing the
symptom. In the current study, 94.6% of participants indicated at least one event from the
spiritual trauma measure was “damaging” or “very damaging,” which was seen as meeting
DSM-IV-TR Criterion A1 and Criterion A2. A large majority of respondents (89.2%, n=248)
endorsed at least one intrusion criteria (Criterion B), with similar percentages endorsing at least
three avoidance criteria (86.3%, n=240) (Criterion C) or endorsing at least two arousal criteria
(85.6%, n=238) (Criterion D). Using this algorithm approach, approximately three-quarters
(73.4%, n=204) of respondents would have likely met criteria for PTSD diagnosis based on the
presence of a religious-based Criteria A event, and combination of intrusion, avoidance, and
arousal symptoms. An additional four participants reported likely PTSD symptomology, but did
not endorse any spiritual trauma items as being “damaging” or “extremely damaging.” Those
who no longer currently attend LDS services were significantly more likely to meet criteria for
PTSD diagnosis than those who currently attend at least monthly (83.8% vs. 64.6% respectively,
χ2
(1, n=274) = 13.09, p >.000). According to the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000), lifetime prevalence
for PTSD in the U.S. adult population is approximately 8%, substantially lower than the likely
prevalence for the study respondents
“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos