This study investigated the factors that influence an individual's propensity to seek sexual reorientation therapy (SRT). Also known as conversion or ex-gay therapy, SRT is aimed at changing one's same-sex sexual orientation or at the very least lessening one's same-sex sexual thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors.

An examination of the literature resulted in the following hypotheses: 1) A family's putative or actual reactions to the disclosure of the individual's homosexuality, 2) the individual's level of religious fundamentalism, and 3) the individual's level of social conformity will significantly correlate with and predict his or her propensity to seek SRT.

Three hundred thirty-three gay affirmative organizations and 343 change-oriented organizations were contacted for distribution of the study announcement. Respondents had the option to complete a Web-based survey online or a hard copy survey that was mailed to them upon request. Some respondents contacted the principal investigator directly for a hard copy or the Web address, while others, it is estimated, received the Web address from other respondents.

A survey was administered to participants 18 years of age or older who had ever identified themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual (g/l/b), or questioning. Two hundred sixty-six participants comprised the final sample, the majority of whom were White/European (89.8 %), female (52.6 %), and an average of 37.8 years of age (SD=13.24). Most (n=238, 89.5%) identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and nearly one-fifth (n=52, 19.5 %) of the sample indicated having participated in SRT.

The survey consisted of a series of researcher added items tapping into demographics, sexuality, and participation in SRT and four standardized instruments, each with good reliability and validity. The standardized instruments represent the dependent variable, propensity to seek SRT (PSCT), and the independent variables, family reactions (PSR), religious fundamentalism (RFS), and social conformity (SCA), all four of which are continuous variables.

Participants reported a mean PSCT score of 13.14 (SD=9.07) on a scale of 9 (low propensity) to 63 (high propensity), a mean PSR score of 2.53 (SD=0.99) on a scale of 1 (accepting) to 5 (rejecting), a mean RFS score of 66.6 (SD=30.09) on a scale of 20 (low fundamentalism) to 180 (high fundamentalism), and a mean SCA score of 203.3 (SD=31.5) on a scale of 170 (autonomy) to 330 (conformity).

Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that scoring high in social conformity and being male made the largest contribution (R²= .36, p<.01) in explaining propensity to seek SRT. Prior participation in SRT was the second greatest predictor of future likelihood of seeking SRT (DR²=. 14, p<.01), followed by scoring high in religious fundamentalism and high in social conformity (DR²=.03, p<.01).

These findings suggest that clinicians should assess and treat the reasons behind the client's desire to change, with particular regard to men who feel compelled to fulfill society's expectations of them and religious fundamentalists who experienced or expect negative reactions from family members or are driven to live according to conservative social norms.