Religiosity and Personal Violence: a Regional Analysis of Suicide and Homicide Rates

The authors present the findings of a study into the relationship between religiosity and suicide and homicide rates in each state of the United States. The study was conducted by measuring the percentage of church attendance for each state in correlation with suicide and homicide rates, for the year 1980. Church attendance was fournd to be negatively related to suicide rates and to homicide rates, supporting the hypotheses of the authors based on Durkheim’s theory. (4 refs)