Pathways to LGBTQ+ self-acceptance: A qualitative study of religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences

Author

Makayla HallFollow
Ruth Walker, University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaFollow

Volume

31

Number

2

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Date

2025

Abstract

For the LGBTQ+ community, self-acceptance often involves embracing one’s identity while confronting internalized stigma, hardships, and religious or societal pressures (Lassiter et al., 2019; Schuck & Liddle, 2001; Stern & Wright, 2017). Prior researchers have highlighted both positive and negative effects of religious and spiritual beliefs for LGBTQ+ individuals, with spirituality often fostering resilience and social support (Lassiter et al., 2019) and religious institutions sometimes contributing to feelings of alienation (Schuck & Liddle, 2001). The purpose of this study was to explore how religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences influence self-acceptance in LGBTQ+ adults. We used reflexive thematic analysis to explore how eight LGBTQ+ participants experienced self-acceptance through four distinct pathways: religion, spirituality, mysticism, and alternative (non-spiritual, non-religious) sources of support. Although most participants described exclusion or judgment from religious communities, some found personal meaning through spirituality or mysticism, including practices like meditation, crystal use, and psychedelic exploration. These findings highlight the importance of individualized meaning-making and supportive environments in fostering LGBTQ+ self-acceptance and suggest future directions for inclusive spiritual care and therapeutic interventions.

Subject

Psychology

Keyword

LGBTQ+; self-acceptance; religion; spirituality; mysticism; religious trauma; thematic analysis

Discipline

Psychology

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Recommended Citation

Hall, Makayla and Walker, Ruth (2025) "Pathways to LGBTQ+ self-acceptance: A qualitative study of religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 31: No. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol31/iss2/2