The Wounds of Worthiness
Attachment Injury, Moral Injury, and Self-Acceptance Among LGBTQ+ Adults
For many LGBTQ+ inpiduals, religion and spirituality can be sources of meaning, connection, and resilience. At the same time, experiences of religious rejection, identity conflict, or messages that challenge a person’s sense of worthiness may have lasting effects on psychological and spiritual well-being. The Wounds of Worthiness Project seeks to better understand these experiences and the ways they may shape how LGBTQ+ adults relate to themselves, their identities, and their spirituality.
Led by Anthony J. Williams under the faculty mentorship of Jesse Fox, PhD, the study examines relationships among self-acceptance, sexual and religious identity integration, attachment-related spiritual experiences, moral injury, feelings of worthiness and meaning, and psychological well-being among LGBTQ+ adults. By exploring multiple dimensions of religious and spiritual experience, this research aims to contribute to more affirming and culturally responsive mental health and spiritual care for LGBTQ+ communities.
Participate in the Study
Adults age 18 or older who identify as LGBTQ+ and can read English are invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. The survey takes approximately 15–20 minutes to complete.