Religious trauma is most often the result of prolonged emotional and mental trauma, rather than a one-time occurring physical experience, which can thereby lead to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). This prolonged form of trauma can have negative impacts on one’s psychological well-being and possibly one’s sense of identity. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how religious trauma may be related to identity development. College students (N = 223) completed an anonymous online survey battery for course credit. Scores on a measure of religious and spiritual struggles was positively correlated with identity distress and identity exploration, but not with identity commitment. Religious and spiritual struggles predicted C-PTSD scores, but also post-traumatic growth (PTG) scores. Deliberate rumination predicted PTG while intrusive rumination predicted C-PTSD. The complex role of rumination as a byproduct of identity exploration in the development of C-PTSD and PTG is further explored and discussed.

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Although religion and spirituality (R/S) can be a protective factor for many, R/S can also be maladaptive in the form of R/S abuse and trauma. R/S abuse and trauma can have a significant impact on one's psychological functioning and has been positively associated with anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and R/S struggles. However, relatively few studies have explored the relationship between R/S abuse and attachment to God. This study helps address this gap in research by exploring the potential associations between R/S abuse and attachment to God in a sample of 308 adults who endorsed a current and/or past R/S identity. The current study found that (a) individuals with marginalized identities reported higher rates of R/S abuse than those with fewer or no marginalized identities, (b) individuals who reported more frequent R/S abuse reported higher levels of R/S struggles, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms, even when controlling for other experiences of trauma and abuse, (c) length of time since one's conversion moderated the association between R/S abuse and God attachment anxiety and avoidance but not R/S deidentification, and (d) God attachment anxiety and avoidance did not moderate the relationship between R/S abuse and trauma-related symptoms or R/S deidentification. I conclude by discussing my findings considering attachment theory and the extant literature on R/S abuse. By better understanding R/S abuse, clinicians will be better equipped to interact with clients of diverse R/S identities, potentially utilizing R/S as a strength in addition to addressing the maladaptive aspects of R/S.

<p dir="ltr">For many, spiritual beliefs and religious affiliation exist as a protective factor, providing significant emotional, psychological, and social support (Ibrahim & Dykeman, 2011). However, for others, abuse within the power structures of religion can also inflict great harm—particularly within marginalized communities—resulting in religious trauma. The LGBTQIA+ community has historically experienced marginalization and discrimination within various religious contexts and doctrines, becoming a group particularly vulnerable to religious trauma (Simmons et al., 2017; Swindle, 2017). This type of trauma has often been overlooked in the therapy room and within the broader Marriage and Family Therapy field. This thesis addresses this gap through the creation of an introductory training for therapists on religious trauma that many in LGBTQIA+ community experience. Grounded in religious trauma research and trauma-informed client care, the training seeks to enhance therapists' capacity to navigate these complex terrains with empathetic and informed care (Ellis et al., 2022). The aim is to create a therapeutic landscape where healing and self-compassion become more accessible to LGBTQIA+ individuals impacted by religious trauma.</p>

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