Background. Negative associations between religion and
suicide, in individuals and countries, may
be mediated by the degree to which suicide is tolerated.
Methods. Linear regression was used to examine ecological
associations between suicide tolerance,
religion and suicide rates in 19 Western countries in 1989/90. Logistic
regression was used to study
associations between suicide tolerance and strength of religious belief
in 28085 individuals in these
countries. The concept of effect modifying function was used to examine
whether the strength of the
association between suicide tolerance and religious belief in individuals
depended on the extent of religious belief in their country.
Results. Higher female suicide rates were associated with
lower aggregate levels of religious belief
and, less strongly, religious attendance. These associations were
mostly attributable to the
association between higher tolerance of suicide and higher suicide
rates. In the 28085 subjects
suicide tolerance and the strength of religious belief were negatively
associated even after
adjustment for other religious and sociodemographic variables and
general tolerance levels (odds
ratios: men 0·74 (95% CI 0·58–0·94), women
0·72 (95% CI 0·60–0·86)). This negative individual-
level association was more pronounced in more highly religious countries
but this modifying effect of the religious context was apparent for men
only.
Conclusions. Ecological associations between religious variables
and suicide rates are stronger for
women than men, stronger for measures of belief than observance and mediated
by tolerance of
suicide. In individuals, stronger religious beliefs are associated with
lower tolerance of suicide.
Personal religious beliefs and, for men, exposure to a religious
environment, may protect against suicide by reducing its acceptability.