Influence of Family, Religion, and Social Conformity on Client Participation in Sexual Reorientation Therapy

Abstract

This study examined the likelihood of participating in sexual reorientation therapy (SRT) based on actual or expected family reactions to the disclosure of one's same-sex sexuality, religious fundamentalism, social conformity, and several demographic variables. A sample of 52 SRT participants and 211 SRT nonparticipants who had ever identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual completed a survey either online or in hardcopy format. Actual or expected negative family reactions, high religious fundamentalism, and identifying as spiritual significantly increased one's odds of participating in SRT. The findings are essential for preparing practitioners in any clinical practice setting to work with clients struggling with their sexuality.

KEYWORDS:

• reorientation therapy
• sexual orientation
• psychotherapy
• homosexuality
• family
• religion
• conformity

The author wishes to thank Dr. Nancy J. Smyth, Supervisory Committee Chair, and Committee Members Drs. Howard J. Doueck, Shelly Wiechelt, Susan Kahn, and Tai Kang for their guidance on the dissertation from which this article originated, and Drs. Lilly Allen, Daphne Cain, Teri Fritsma, Catherine Lemieux, and Timothy Page for their comments on an earlier version of this article.