Formal religious practices statistically predicted increased severity of suicidal thoughts, while belief in God did not; religious conflict was also associated with increased severity of suicidal thoughts

Rabasco, A., & Andover, M. (2021). The relationship between religious practices and beliefs and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among transgender and gender diverse adults. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Nov 2021. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000453

Abstract: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people are at heightened risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (James et al., 2016). Some studies have found that religious practices and beliefs are positively associated with suicidal thoughts or behaviors among TGD individuals (Gibbs & Goldbach, 2015), while other studies have found a negative association (Grossman et al., 2016) or no relationship (Yüksel et al., 2017). In order to better understand the relationship between religion and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among TGD people, the present study investigated the relationship between religious practices, belief in God, and religious conflict, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. TGD adults (N = 180) were recruited and completed questionnaires online assessing religious practices, religious conflict, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It was found that formal religious practices statistically predicted increased severity of suicidal thoughts, while belief in God did not. Religious conflict was also associated with increased severity of suicidal thoughts. Specifically, participants who reported currently holding religious beliefs that were not accepting of their gender identity had significantly higher severity of suicidal thoughts compared to participants who reported currently holding religious beliefs that were accepting of their gender identity. No relationship between religious practices and beliefs and suicidal behaviors emerged. These findings underscore the nuanced relationship between religion and suicidality among TGD people. They also point to the potential for religious communities to help reduce suicidal ideation among TGD members by fostering personal religious beliefs that are accepting of diverse gender identities.