Spirituality: A Protective Factor for Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<jats:p xml:lang="en">Today, suicide is the leading cause of unnatural death among young people aged 15 to 29 years. Spirituality and religiosity have been identified as potential protective factors against suicide in several studies. A total of twenty-six studies were identified and analyzed through a qualitative synthesis, followed by a meta-analysis of twenty studies (154,933 participants). The results showed a statistically significant, though modest, negative association (ES = –.12; 95% CI [–.15, –.08]) between spirituality/religiosity and suicidal behavior. The protective effect appeared stronger among women, particularly when parental religious involvement was high. However, the influence of spirituality and religiosity varied depending on specific moderating variables, including sexual minority status and psychological maladjustment, suggesting that their role is not universally protective. Key mechanisms identified included a personal sense of meaning and belonging, which may buffer suicide risk in some youth populations. These findings underscore the potential relevance of spirituality and religiosity in resilience processes, but should be interpreted cautiously in light of cultural differences, population diversity, and the heterogeneity of the included studies.</jats:p>