Religiousness and Depression Among Transgender and Genderqueer Latter‐Day Saints

ABSTRACT The present study is the first known study to assess the effects of religiousness on depression among trans and genderqueer (TGQ) individuals raised as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐Day Saints. A sample of 118 Latter‐Day Saint (LDS) TGQ participants was compared to 263 LDS cisgender participants. Although LDS TGQ participants were less religious overall, they experienced more interpersonal religious struggles (facing conflicts, judgment, or rejection from religious people) than LDS cisgender people. Additionally, negative religious coping (questioning beliefs or believing one is being punished due to sinful behavior) and interpersonal religious struggles were positively related to depression for all participants—though this relationship was strongest among cisgender participants—whereas positive religious coping was negatively related to depression. The present study provides a foundation for understanding how religion affects the mental and emotional wellbeing of TGQ people raised LDS.