Suicide Rates and Religious Commitment in Young Adult Males in Utah

This report examines Utah suicide rates for young men aged 15-34 years stratified by their membership in & commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Using high religious commitment as a reference group, the less-active group had relative risks of suicide ranging from 3.28 (ages 15-19 years) to 7.64 (ages 25-29 years); nonmembers of the Church had relative risks ranging from 3.43 (ages 15-19 years) to 6.27 (ages 20-24 years). Although the mechanism of the association is unclear, higher levels of religiosity appear to be inversely associated with suicide. (29 refs.)