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Variations in Religious Development by Sexual Orientation: Results from a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample
Kalina M L Fahey1, Sarah S Dermody2
1Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions; University of New Mexico.
Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
|September 2, 2025
Summary
Religious development varies by sexual orientation. Heterosexual individuals show initial high religiosity that declines, while other groups generally report lower levels across development, with some exceptions for gay/lesbian and asexual individuals.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Religion
- Developmental Psychology
- Sexual Orientation Studies
Background:
- Religious development is a key aspect of adolescent and adult life.
- Understanding how religiosity changes over the lifespan and differs across sexual orientations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine religious development from adolescence to middle adulthood.
- To compare these developmental trajectories across diverse sexual orientations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).
- Employed time-varying effect modeling to analyze changes in religious affiliation, importance, attendance, and prayer from ages 12 to 41.
- Analyzed data from 10,879 participants, categorizing by sexual orientation.
Main Results:
- Heterosexual individuals exhibited peak religious affiliation and attendance in adolescence, followed by a decline and stabilization.
- Generally, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, and mostly gay/lesbian individuals reported lower religiosity across all measures compared to heterosexual individuals.
- Gay/lesbian and asexual individuals showed no significant difference in affiliation compared to heterosexuals, but lower attendance and importance in adulthood (gay/lesbian) or adolescence (asexual).
Conclusions:
- Religiosity undergoes developmental changes influenced by sexual orientation.
- Significant differences in religious trajectories exist between heterosexual individuals and those with non-monosexual orientations.
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