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Cited by 93Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesReligion, Spirituality, and PsychologyHomicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Regional suicide rates in the Netherlands: does religion still play a role?

Neeleman, J·1998·International Journal of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1093/ije/27.3.466
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined the nature of ecological associations between 'religiousness' and suicide rates (1985-1994) in the 11 provinces in the Netherlands. METHODS: Indices of religiousness, obtained from a nationwide survey, were used as aggregate predictors of provincial suicide rates in weighted linear regressions, and as individual-level predictors of suicide acceptance in logistic regressions. Sociodemographic confounding was controlled for. RESULTS: Orthodox beliefs and religious affiliation were the best predictors of lower suicide acceptance in individuals and of lower suicide rates in provinces. The ecological association was most pronounced in the least religious parts of the country giving rise to a curvilinear ecological regression line. CONCLUSIONS: Curvilinear ecological regression lines arise when mean levels of exposure affect individual risk above and beyond personal exposure i.e. when there is ecological effect modification. This study demonstrates that such contextual effects, responsible for cross-level bias, apply to the association between suicide and religiousness. Variation, from context to context, of the effects of exposure to psychosocial risk or protective factors for outcomes such as suicide, has important implications for research and prevention.

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  • Of the 49 highest-rigor studies on R/S and suicide, 39 (80%) reported less suicide, fewer attempts, or more negative attitudes toward suicide among more R/S, and two (4%) found positive relationships.

    “With regard to the 49 studies with the highest methodological rigor, 39 (80%) reported less suicide, fewer suicide attempts, or more negative attitudes toward suicide among the more R/S [155–170] and two (4%) found positive relationships (one study in Delhi, India [171], and one in college students distressed over R/S concerns [172]).”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [160]

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Authors
Neeleman, J.
Affiliations
University of Groningen (NL)
Corresponding author
Neeleman, J
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1998-06-01
Volume
27
Issue
3
Pages
466-472
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
DOI
10.1093/ije/27.3.466
OpenAlex
W2167589313
Cited by
93
References
25
Citations by year
2024: 1 · 2023: 41 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
FWCI
2.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Wellcome Trust
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
Keywords
suicide rates, religiosity, religious affiliation, ecological associations, contextual effects, provincial variation, Netherlands
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Religion and Psychology, Suicide, Incidence

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