Church-based social support and suicidality among African Americans and Black Caribbeans.
This study explores the relationship between church-based informal social support and lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts within a representative national sample of African American and Black Caribbean adults. Characteristics of church-based social support networks, as well as emotional support and negative interaction with church members were examined in relation to lifetime suicide ideation and attempts. This study used data from the National Survey of American Life (2001-2003). Frequency of interaction with church members was positively associated with suicide attempts, while subjective closeness to church members was negatively associated with suicide ideation. Emotional support, service attendance, and negative interaction with church members were unrelated to both suicide ideation and attempts. Findings are discussed in relation to research on church-based support networks, different models linking church support and suicidality, and the mechanisms by which church-based networks deter suicide ideation and attempts.
School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. chatters@umich.edu
Linda M
LM
Chatters
Robert Joseph
RJ
Taylor
Karen D
KD
Lincoln
Ann
A
Nguyen
Sean
S
Joe
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012924:Social Conditions; D012944:Social Support; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology