Believing in religion as a source of value strains among college students: a cross-sectional study

This study further examined the relationship between religion and suicidality with value strain as a mediating factor among Chinese college students. Employing cluster sampling, there were 13,250 college students recruited across seven provinces in China. Three psychometric scales were used to examine religiousness (Religious Orientation-Revised Scale), value strain levels (Psychological Strain Scale), and suicidal behaviours (Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised). Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the influencing power of religion on value strain and suicidality. In addition, a series of linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the mediating effect of value strain on the association between religion and suicidality. the findings showed that first, positive relationships between religion and value strain, and suicidality were both detected; second, adherents to religion were marginalised which may have caused more value conflict further leading to a higher suicidal risk among believers.