The Effect of Religious Commitment on Suicide: A Cross-National Analysis

Abstract

Research on the relationship of religion and suicide has relied almost exclusively on the concept of religious integration as a causal variable. The present paper proposes an alternative linkage, based on the concept of religious commitment. A theory is developed that argues that a high level of commitment to a few life-preserving religious beliefs, values, and practices will lower suicide levels. Control variables are taken from the industrialization and the neglected genderequality perspectives on suicide. A multiple regression analysis of suicide rates from 25 nations indicates that religious commitment is negatively related to the total suicide rate. However, this relationship holds only forfemales, the group traditionally most committed to religion. Both the industrialization and gender-equality variables were more closely associated with the variance in ageand gender-specific suicide rates than was the religious variable.