Remarkably little is known about protective factors that reduce Blacks'risk for suicide or attempted suicide. In particular, the link between religion and suicide risk reduction in blacks has never been demonstrated with a nationally representative sample, particularly one that also takes into account ethnic groups'differences. The death in suicide research among blacks is due primarily to not having data set with large enough numbers of black Americans from which to draw meaningful conclusions. The proposed research aims to provide a comprehensive examination of whether religious participation and spirituality are correlated with reductions in the risk for serious suicidal behavior (e.g., attempted suicide, suicide planning) in a nationally representative sample of 5,191 African Americans and Black Caribbeans. The public health significance lies in specifying religious factors related to lower suicide risk, which will inform subsequent suicide prevention interventions and strategies. The present study is designed to make four important contributions to the advancement of research on religion and spirituality's effects on suicidal behavior among African Americans, namely by: (1) capitalizing on the strengths of a large, nationally representative data set, the National Survey of American Life [NSAL];(2) determining whether religiosity and spirituality are associated with reductions in the risk for suicide attempts and serious suicide planning by Blacks;and (3) investigating the relative effects of informal social support from both church members and family members on reductions in the risk for suicide attempts and serious suicide planning by Blacks. And whether and through what mechanisms informal social support (e.g., church and family social support) may moderate or mediate the pathways of religiosity to black suicidal behavior. The data analytic approaches to be used include regression, logistic regression, multi-nominal logistic regression, Cox proportional hazard model, and structural equation modeling.

Public Health Relevance

The Institute of Medicine report (2002), """"""""Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative,"""""""" highlighted understanding the protective factors for suicidal behavior among Blacks, such as religion, as an emergent public health research priority.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH082807-02
Application #
7664431
Study Section
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section (PDRP)
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2008-07-25
Project End
2011-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$312,863
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Type
Schools of Social Work
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
(2014) Social integration and the mental health of Black adolescents. Child Dev 85:835-841
Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M; Nguyen, Ann W (2013) Religious participation and DSM IV major depressive disorder among Black Caribbeans in the United States. J Immigr Minor Health 15:903-9
Himle, Joseph A; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M (2012) Religious involvement and obsessive compulsive disorder among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. J Anxiety Disord 26:502-10
Doyle, Otima; Joe, Sean; Caldwell, Cleopatra H (2012) Ethnic differences in mental illness and mental health service use among Black fathers. Am J Public Health 102 Suppl 2:S222-31
Lincoln, Karen D; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M et al. (2012) Suicide, negative interaction and emotional support among black Americans. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47:1947-58
Aranda, Maria P; Chae, David H; Lincoln, Karen D et al. (2012) Demographic correlates of DSM-IV major depressive disorder among older African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and non-Hispanic Whites: results from the National Survey of American Life. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 27:940-7
Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M; Joe, Sean (2011) Non-organizational religious participation, subjective religiosity, and spirituality among older African Americans and Black Caribbeans. J Relig Health 50:623-45
Chatters, Linda M; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Lincoln, Karen D et al. (2011) Church-based social support and suicidality among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Arch Suicide Res 15:337-53
Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M (2011) Religious Media Use Among African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. J Afr Am Stud (New Brunsw) 15:433-454
Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M; Joe, Sean (2011) Religious involvement and suicidal behavior among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. J Nerv Ment Dis 199:478-86

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