Department of Psychology, Macquarie University.
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2017;87(6):690-703. doi: 10.1037/ort0000297. Epub 2017 Oct 16.
Anti-gay, or homonegative, prejudice is generally considered harmful to the wellbeing of sexual minority individuals. However, the origins or nature of such prejudice may vary. Despite a sizable body of literature suggesting homonegative prejudice is frequently religious-based, the psychological impact of exposure to religious anti-gay prejudice remains largely undetermined. Addressing this research gap, the authors examined whether opposition to same-sex sexuality on religious grounds predicted detrimental outcomes among same- and both-sex attracted individuals, as well as their heterosexual counterparts. A nationwide U.S. sample of 1600 individuals-recruited using contemporary online crowd-sourcing techniques designed to limit selection bias-completed a novel inventory assessing interpersonal exposure to religious (as well as nonreligious) homonegative disapproval. Outcome variables assessed included a number of clinically relevant measures spanning general mental health, social support, suicidality, abuse, and substance use. Analyses revealed that greater exposure to religious anti-gay prejudice predicted higher levels of anxiety, stress, and shame; more instances of physical and verbal abuse; and more problematic alcohol use. Furthermore, while sexual minority individuals tended to fare more poorly than their heterosexual counterparts on almost every outcome measure assessed, homonegative prejudice predicted poorer outcomes among all respondents regardless of their sexual orientation or religious identification. Hence, results are among the first to demonstrate that anti-gay religious exposure is associated with substantial threats to wellbeing, and that such effects may be observed beyond religious sexual minorities. Overall, findings imply that homonegative religious social conditions may be of broader health and mental health concern than is conventionally recognized. (PsycINFO Database Record
反同，或对同性恋的消极态度，一般被认为对性少数群体的幸福感有害。然而，这种偏见的起源或性质可能有所不同。尽管大量文献表明，对同性恋的消极态度通常基于宗教，但接触宗教反同偏见的心理影响在很大程度上仍未确定。为了解决这一研究空白，作者研究了基于宗教理由反对同性性行为是否会预测同、双性恋吸引者以及异性恋者的不利后果。作者在美国全国范围内招募了 1600 名参与者，使用现代在线众包技术招募，旨在限制选择偏差，参与者填写了一份新的问卷，评估人际间接触宗教（以及非宗教）反同否定的情况。结果变量评估包括一系列临床相关指标，涵盖一般心理健康、社会支持、自杀意念、虐待和物质使用。分析结果显示，接触更多的宗教反同偏见与更高水平的焦虑、压力和羞耻感有关；更多的身体和言语虐待事件；以及更严重的酒精使用问题。此外，尽管性少数群体在几乎所有评估的结果指标上的表现都不如异性恋者，但对同性恋的消极态度预测了所有受访者的更差结果，无论他们的性取向或宗教认同如何。因此，这些结果是首批表明反同宗教接触与幸福感的重大威胁有关的研究之一，并且这些影响可能在宗教性少数群体之外也能观察到。总的来说，这些发现意味着对同性恋的消极宗教社会状况可能比传统上认识到的更广泛地影响健康和心理健康。
