title: Religiousness and suicide in a nationally representative sample of Trinidad and Tobago adolescents and young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examines religiousness and its connection to suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts among Trinidad and Tobago adolescents and young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from Trend Research Empowering National Development on adolescents and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago (N = 4448). Religious affiliation, self-perceived religiousness, attendance at religious services, prayer frequency, socio-demographic variables, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to nonreligious, Catholics (OR 0.63, p < 0.05) and Seventh-day Adventists (OR 0.47, p < 0.01) were less likely to think about suicide, and hindus (OR 5.81, p < 0.05) and other affiliates (OR 7.28, p < 0.01) were more likely to be treated for suicide. Higher self-rated religiosity was related to lower likelihood of thinking about suicide (OR 0.86, p < 0.01) and lower likelihood of planning suicide (OR 0.78, p < 0.001). Attendance at religious services was related to lower likelihood of thinking about suicide (OR 0.94, p < 05) and fewer suicide attempts (β = -0.11, p < 0.01). More frequent prayer was related to lower likelihood of thinking about suicide (OR 0.92, p < 0.01) and lower likelihood of planning suicide (OR 0.90, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Religiousness may offer benefits for adolescents and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago by reducing the likelihood that they engage in suicide thoughts and behaviors. Results may hold implications for counselors, clergy, teachers, and others working with adolescents and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago.
authors: Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, USA. touslo01@luther.edu.
authors: Loren
authors: L
authors: Toussaint
authors: Academic Affairs, School of Behavioral Health, Social Work and Social Ecology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, USA.
authors: Colwick M
authors: CM
authors: Wilson
authors: Alabama State University, Montgomery, USA.
authors: Leon C
authors: LC
authors: Wilson
authors: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of African and African American Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065840:Protective Factors; D012067:Religion; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents and young adults; Religiousness; Suicide; Trinidad and Tobago