Spirituality: its role as a mediating protective factor in youth at risk for suicide.

aim of this study is to examine the role of spiritual well-being as a predictor of suicide risk, specifically the role of spiritual beliefs as a mediating variable in predicting risk in a diverse sample of college-aged youth. Participants (N = 243) completed self-report instruments to assess suicidality, social support, spiritual well-being, and reasons for living. Logistic regression analyses were performed using the independent variables to predict suicide-related behaviors. Spiritual beliefs may function as a mediating variable by assisting the negotiation of social support where increased levels promote higher levels of coping.