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Religion and Suicide Risk in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Austrians

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Abstract

Religion is known to be a protective factor against suicide. However, religiously affiliated sexual minority individuals often report a conflict between religion and sexual identity. Therefore, the protective role of religion against suicide in sexual minority people is unclear. We investigated the effect of religion on suicide risk in a sample of 358 lesbian, gay and bisexual Austrians. Religion was associated with higher scores of internalized homophobia, but with fewer suicide attempts. Our data indicate that religion might be both a risk and a protective factor against suicidality in religiously affiliated sexual minority individuals.

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Correspondence to Karl Kralovec.

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Kralovec, K., Fartacek, C., Fartacek, R. et al. Religion and Suicide Risk in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Austrians. J Relig Health 53, 413–423 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9645-2

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