Keywords

Bisexual, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gay, LDS, Latter-day Saints, lesbian, LGBTQ+, LGB, marriage, mental health, mixed-orientation marriage, MOM, Mormon, MSM, sexual minorities, sexuality

Abstract

Mixed-Orientation marriages (MOMs) are a complex reality of many Latter-day Saints. A MOM is when one or both partners in a relationship are either lesbian, bisexual, or gay (Kort, 2015). This paper overviews the effects on mental health and the sustainability of MOMs. Research suggests that MOMs have a negative effect on mental health, and LGB members are much less likely to get help from mental health professionals due to stigma and fear of rejection (Dyer et al., 2023; Legerski et al., 2016; McGraw et el., 2023). MOMs are also up to 30% more likely to end in divorce (Dehlin, 2015; Kort, 2015). This negative impact on marriage is likely due to stigma surrounding LGB members, as well as low levels of physical attraction between partners (Bridges et al., 2019; Chakravarty et al., 2021; Dehlin et al., 2018; McGraw et el., 2023). Recommendations for approaching MOMs in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussed, and a call to reduce stigma around LGB members is given.

Document Type

Class Project or Paper

Publication Date

2023-12-13

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Psychology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Sophomore

Course

Psychology 306

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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