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Cited by 162Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesReligion, Spirituality, and PsychologyHomicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Suicide Acceptability in African- and White Americans: The Role of Religion

NEELEMAN, JAN, WESSELY, SIMON, LEWIS, GLYN·1998·The Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
DOI 10.1097/00005053-199801000-00003
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Abstract

Rates of suicidal behavior are lower among African- than white Americans. We analyzed the association of suicide acceptability with religious, sociodemographic, and emotional variables in representative samples of African- and white Americans (1990). Adjusted for ethnic response bias, the former were less accepting of suicide than the latter (odds ratio .60; 95% confidence interval .41, .88). Orthodox religious beliefs and personal devotion predicted rejection of suicide best; this effect was equally strong in both groups. The comparatively low level of suicide acceptability among African-Americans was mostly attributable to their relatively high levels of orthodox religious beliefs and devotion, as opposed to practice and affiliation, although sociodemographic and emotional differences contributed as well. These results are interpreted using the cognitive dissonance model. Given rapid secularization among the young in the United States, these findings may help explain the rising suicide rates among white and, especially, African-American young people.

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Crossref · 10.1097/00005053-199801000-00003

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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 [159]

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Authors
NEELEMAN, J., WESSELY, S., & LEWIS, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Groningen (NL)
  • University of Wales (GB)
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
1998-01
Volume
186
Issue
1
Pages
12-16
ISSN
0022-3018 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/00005053-199801000-00003
OpenAlex
W2006947895
Cited by
162
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 7
FWCI
4.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
  • 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
African Americans, White Americans, religious beliefs, religious devotion, ethnic differences, secularization, sociodemographic factors, emotional factors
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Attitude, Black or African American, Cognitive Dissonance, Humans, Models, Psychological, Probability, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Religion and Psychology, Social Values, Suicide, United States, Multivariate Analysis, Odds Ratio, White People

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