Associate Professor University of Mississippi Southaven, Mississippi, United States
Abstract : Background and
Aim: Suicide remains a major public health issue, especially among college students in the Southern United States. Although previous studies have explored the link between religiosity and suicidal ideation, there is limited research focusing on the specific influences of religious meeting attendance (RMA) and private religious activities (PRA) on suicidal thoughts. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the direct and mediated effects of religiosity (RMA and PRA) and depression on suicidal ideation among college students at a prominent Southern U.S. university. Additionally, the study evaluated racial and ethnic differences between white and African American students to identify any variation in these relationships.
Methods: This research included 272 college students, comprising 222 women (81.6%) and 50 men (18.4%), all aged 18 or older. Among the participants, 58.8% (160) identified as White, and 41.2% (112) as African American. RMA and PRA served as independent variables, suicidal ideation as the dependent variable, and depression as a mediator. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and mediation models were analyzed with the PROCESS macro, which provides bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals.
Results: Findings indicated a notable negative association between PRA and suicidal ideation; among participants with lower RMA, those with higher PRA exhibited significantly reduced suicidal ideation. Furthermore, RMA was inversely related to depression, with those in higher RMA groups experiencing fewer depressive symptoms. A strong positive link was also observed between depression and suicidal ideation, showing that students with more depressive symptoms reported higher levels of suicidal ideation. In groups with high RMA, religiosity indirectly reduced suicidal ideation by mitigating depressive symptoms. The study found no significant racial differences within the mediation model.
Implications &
Conclusions: These results underscore the protective role of religiosity, specifically RMA and PRA, in reducing depression and suicidal ideation among rural college students. Students with higher engagement in religious activities showed lower depression levels, which in turn lessened their suicidal thoughts. Promoting RMA and PRA may offer valuable benefits in managing depression and reducing suicidal ideation among college students. These insights can guide counselors and mental health professionals on rural campuses in using religious practices to support students struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. The findings may also inform mental health intervention strategies tailored to college students in the Southern United States. ==========================================================
Learning Objectives:
1. At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to describe the relationship between religiosity, depression, and suicidal ideation among college students in the Southern U.S. 2. At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to identify key differences in how religious meeting attendance and private religious activities influence depression and suicidal thoughts. 3. At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to analyze the potential racial and ethnic variations in the impact of religiosity on mental health outcomes among white and African American college students. 4. At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to evaluate how religiosity can act as a protective factor against depression and suicidal ideation, using mediation models and statistical analysis. 5. At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to apply culturally sensitive approaches when considering religiosity in mental health interventions for college students.
