Religion and Health In Arctic Norway—The association of religious and spiritual factors with non-suicidal self-injury in the Sami and non-Sami adult population—The SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey

Abstract

Research has found psychological dimensions of religiosity/spirituality (R/S) beneficial against non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), whereas the effect of R/S social aspects is less studied. Using data from the SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey (2012, n=10,717 ages 18-69; response rate: 27%; non-Sami: 66%; females: 55%), we examined the association of R/S-religious attendance, congregational affiliation, Laestadian family background, religious importance/view of life-with NSSI in the adult Sami and non-Sami population of Arctic Norway. We also applied multivariable-adjusted regression models and mediation analyses to explore how religious participation transmits its effect on NSSI through violence exposure and symptoms of anxiety and depression.Across ethnicities, 3.3 percent (n=355) reported lifetime NSSI-ranging from 1.2 percent among Laestadians to 7.7 percent in unaffiliated. Regular religious attendance had a significant negative total effect on NSSI (OR=0.59), seemingly transmitting 95 percent of the effect via fewer anxiety and depression symptoms-probably related to religious social support.

The association of religious factors with mental health-service utilisation and satisfaction in a mixed Sámi and Norwegian adult population: Adopting the SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey

“…This result may be partly due to lower need for mental health services because of the lower level of psychological distress among religious attendees, including less alcohol and illicit substance use, and suicidal behaviour [ 50 ]. These findings were partly published previously [ 5 , 47 ]. Also, the negative association may be related to the use of R/S methods of handling mental health problems, e.g.…”

“…However, we have no information on the use of these methods in our sample. A religious fellowship may represent a social and psychological support system buffering mental distress [ 5 , 47 ] and influencing professional mental healthcare use in this sample, similar to the effect of the Church among African Americans [ 31 ]. In Sámi-Norwegian areas, religious family networks actively contribute to the patient’s healing process [ 51 ].…”

“…We used the two measures of general R/S, which are appropriate to a religiously homogeneous population dominated by traditional Lutheranism [ 5 , 46 , 47 ].…”