Event Title
Does Religiosity Have an Effect on Suicide Among Adolescents?
Faculty Mentor
Benjamin Scafidi
Keywords
Benjamin Scafidi
Abstract
Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 24. This paper focuses on the effects of religiosity on suicide in adolescents. Data from a national longitudinal study of adolescents was used in two linear probability models to take a more micro approach to analyzing the effects of religion on whether youths contemplate or attempt suicide. Most religions emphasize the idea that suicide has negative consequences in the afterlife. Such a belief can be seen as an incentive to refrain from committing suicide. Alternatively, affiliation with a certain religion could provide individuals with a supportive community that improves their mental and emotional stability. The results show that religious affiliation has no statistically significant results on contemplation of suicide, suggesting that religion does not deter thoughts of the act. However, adolescents who affiliate with a religion are less likely to attempt suicide, according to the findings. Furthermore, additional robust analysis shows that there is not substantial variation among the effects of differing degrees of religiosity.
Session Name:
Some Economics of Happiness, Sadness, and Badness
Start Date
4-4-2014 1:15 PM
End Date
4-4-2014 2:15 PM
Location
HSB 300
Does Religiosity Have an Effect on Suicide Among Adolescents?
HSB 300
Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 24. This paper focuses on the effects of religiosity on suicide in adolescents. Data from a national longitudinal study of adolescents was used in two linear probability models to take a more micro approach to analyzing the effects of religion on whether youths contemplate or attempt suicide. Most religions emphasize the idea that suicide has negative consequences in the afterlife. Such a belief can be seen as an incentive to refrain from committing suicide. Alternatively, affiliation with a certain religion could provide individuals with a supportive community that improves their mental and emotional stability. The results show that religious affiliation has no statistically significant results on contemplation of suicide, suggesting that religion does not deter thoughts of the act. However, adolescents who affiliate with a religion are less likely to attempt suicide, according to the findings. Furthermore, additional robust analysis shows that there is not substantial variation among the effects of differing degrees of religiosity.