Navigating intersecting identities: Dimensions of religiousness/spirituality and sexual orientation predicting sexual distress among emerging adults.

This article examines the relationships between religiousness/spirituality (R/S), sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual distress among emerging adults aged 18–30. Using data from 266 Canadian participants, the study found that sexual distress was significantly predicted by minority sexual orientation and four specific dimensions of R/S—daily spiritual experiences, forgiveness, religious and spiritual coping, and religious support—while gender identity and overall religious/spiritual affiliation were not significant predictors. The findings suggest that particular aspects of R/S related to coping and social support may buffer against sexual distress, and that sexual orientation has a minimal direct influence on sexual distress when these R/S factors are considered. The study highlights the complex interplay between identity and spirituality in sexual well-being during emerging adulthood and calls for further research with more diverse samples to clarify these relationships.