Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among perceived levels of stress and religious coping in LGB individuals in the context of their same-sex binational relationships, as well as education, age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, and religious affiliation. Meyer's (1995) Minority Stress theory was used as a theoretical framework to guide in the understanding of personal and environmental factors and/or contextual stressors and how these relate to the perception of stress, religious affiliation, and religious coping. The sample consisted of 465 individuals that completed an online fcrvey on same-sex binational relationships in June 2013. This dissertation utilized data collected as a part of a larger study. Hypothesis 1 stated that participants who completed high school or less, are older, are female, and are from a Latin America nation and of Latino ethnic background, will report higher level of religious affiliation. Hypothesis 2 stated that LGB individuals in same-sex binational relationships in the U.S. who are affiliate with a religion will report higher levels of stress. Hypothesis 3 stated that individuals in same-sex binational relationships in the U.S., who engage in more religious coping, will report lower levels of stress. Results indicated age, gender, education, ethnicity, nationality and religious affiliation were not significantly correlated with religious affiliation. Results also showed that religious affiliation was not significantly correlated with higher levels of stress among LGB individuals in the U.S. Finally, individuals in the U.S. who engage in more religious coping was not significantly correlated with lower levels of stress.