CHURCH ATTENDANCE, DENOMINATION, AND SUICIDE IDEOLOGY

The influence of religion on attitudes toward suicide was explored, us ing a representative sample (N = 2,034) of 15- to 30-year-old Germans. The dependent variable was approval vs. disapproval of suicide in hop eless situations. A legit model that fits the data includes the variab les of denomination, church attendance, education, and suicide of an a cquaintance as well as a Church Attendance x Suicide of an Acquaintanc e interaction. Gender did not improve the fit of the model. The result s of the analysis indicated that church attendance and Catholicism dec reased support for suicide. The effect of religiosity on attitudes abo ut suicide was not affected by gender or by education.