The effect of religion on clinical psychologists' attitudes toward suicide

No studies to date have examined the effect religion has on clinical psychologists' attitudes toward suicide. Forty percent (N = 407) of a random, stratified sample of 1,000 American Psychological Association (APA) clinical psychologists completed the Suicide Attitude (SUIATT) questionnaire (Diekstra & Kerkhof, 1989), accompanying religious measure and demographics measures. The SUIATT, well established psychometrically in Holland (r =.82), identifies six dimensions of suicide attitudes. Valente, Saunders, and Farberow (1990) adapted the SUIATT for use in the United States. This study presents the first widespread use of the adapted tool (r =.90). A factor analysis confirmed six dimensions; four coincide with Diekstra and Kerkhof's (1989).; Religiosity was determined by affiliation to APA Division 36 (Psychologists Interested in Religious Issues) or holding a theological degree and confirmed by responses to an intrinsic religious item.; Four hypotheses were investigated. Two considered the effect of religion on attitudes toward suicide overall and in relation to specific circumstances including terminal illness and AIDS. Personal experience with suicide as defined by losing a friend or family member to suicide or clinical experiences defined by number of suicidal clients seen or attending a suicide course, was hypothesized to lead to more accepting attitudes toward suicide and more knowledge about suicide. Age and gender were hypothesized to correlate with suicide acceptance. Comparisons between religious and non-religious groups were made on Factor 1: Sanction of suicide and Factor 6: Rationality vs. mental abnormality of suicide.; Results indicated that religious beliefs significantly inhibited accepting attitudes toward suicide such that suicide is regarded as an implausible option in most cases, including terminal illness and AIDS. Respondents who have had a friend or family member commit suicide were significantly more accepting of suicide than those who had not, and were more informed on a suicide knowledge question. While previous research (De Leo & Ormskerk, 1991) asserted that men become more accepting of suicide as they grow older, this study found no significant differences between gender, age, or the interaction of gender and age on SUIATT test scores. Non-religious respondents were significantly more accepting of Factor 1. No significant differences were found between groups on Factor 6.