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Religion and suicide acceptability: a cross-national analysis
Steven Stack1, Augustine J Kposowa
1Wayne State University.
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
|October 5, 2011
Summary
Religiosity, religious commitment, and social networks reduce suicide acceptability. This study supports an integrated model, highlighting the moral community thesis in understanding suicide acceptability across nations.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
Background:
- The study explores the relationship between religiosity and suicide acceptability.
- It examines four theoretical perspectives: moral community thesis, religious integration, religious commitment, and social networks.
Observation:
- Data from the 2000 World Values/European Values Surveys (50,547 individuals, 56 nations) were analyzed.
- A multivariate hierarchical linear model was employed.
Findings:
- All four perspectives were supported by the data.
- Higher national religiosity, affiliation with major faiths, religious commitment, and engagement in religious networks correlated with lower suicide acceptability.
- Religious integration, particularly affiliation with Islam, showed a significant association with lower suicide acceptability.
Implications:
- The findings support an integrated model of religiosity and suicide acceptability.
- The moral community thesis is validated as a useful framework for understanding variations in suicide acceptability globally.
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