Religiousness, sexual orientation, and depression among emerging adults in U.S. higher education: Findings from the Healthy Minds Study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000004
• Publication Date: 2025-03-26T21:02:44Z
• Authors: Hans Oh; G. Tyler Lefevor; Edward B. Davis; Anna Zhu; Yaofang Hu; Trevor A. Pickering; Ai Koyanagi; Lee Smith
• Keywords: Depression

Religiousness has long been found beneficial for mental health, although its protective effects may be attenuated sexual minorities. We sought to examine the associations between religiousness and depression whether these were moderated by religious affiliation and/or orientation. analyzed dataset ( N = 103,161 undergraduate graduate students) from Healthy Minds Study (2020-2021), which was an online survey administered at 140 higher education institutions across United States. used multivariable logistic regression (religious importance) depression, adjusting age, gender identity, race/ethnicity. tested Associations importance varied minority groups (gay/lesbian, bisexual, or other) affiliations, differences only statistically significant among Catholic students. Broadly, Christian students, associated with lower odds of but this association evident heterosexual students (and not students). Higher also Muslim again effect present Among who identified as Hindu Catholic, queer/questioning/other. those Buddhist Mormon, greater bisexual In conclusion, young adults generally. This orientation, showing often weaker non-significant minorities, depending on orientation affiliation.