How does religion/spirituality impact LGBQ+ youth mental health?
Springtide interviews young people from a variety of backgrounds and demographics for our studies, and as you might guess, our religious and spiritual lives can be influenced by where we grow up, who we grow up around and how we identify. Our 2022 report, The State of Religion and Young People – Mental Health: What Faith Leaders Need to Know, shows that regardless of demographics, religious and spiritual beliefs and practice help mental health for Gen Z. Here’s 7 stats on how religion and spirituality intersect with mental health for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Queer (LGBQ+) (non-straight) people.
-
LGBQ+ youth who are flourishing in their faith are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health.
Just 11% of those not flourishing in their faith are flourishing a lot in their mental health, whereas 42% of those flourishing a lot in their faith are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
-
LGBQ+ youth who pray daily are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health than those who never pray.
Just 13% of those who never pray are flourishing a lot in their mental health, whereas 23% of those who pray daily are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
-
LGBQ+ youth who study a religious text daily are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health than those who never study a religious text.
Just 13% of those who never study a religious text are flourishing a lot in their mental health, whereas 30% of those who study a religious text daily are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
-
LGBQ+ youth who attend religious services at least weekly are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health than those who never attend religious services.
Just 13% of those who never attend religious services are flourishing a lot in their mental health, whereas 51% of those who attend religious services at least weekly are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
-
LGBQ+ youth who “believe in a higher power with no doubts” are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health than those who don’t believe in a higher power.
Just 16% of those who don’t believe in a higher power are flourishing a lot in their mental health, whereas 25% of those who “believe in a higher power with no doubts” are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
-
LGBQ+ youth who are connected to a spiritual or religious community are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health than those who used to be or have never been.
Just 16% of those who have never been connected to a s/r community, and just 15% of those who used to be connected to a s/r community, are flourishing a lot in their mental health. Whereas 24% of those who are currently connected to a s/r community are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
-
LGBQ+ youth who are highly connected to a higher power are more likely to be flourishing in their mental health than those not at all connected to a higher power.
Just 11% of those not at all connected to a higher power are flourishing a lot in their mental health, whereas 37% of those who are highly connected to a higher power are flourishing a lot in their mental health.
