Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine religiosity and depression as predictors of suicidal thought among secondary school students in Southwestern, Nigeria. Descriptive research design of ex-post-facto type was used. One thousand three hundred and twelve (1312) comprising of 595 male and 717 female respondents were selected from five selected States (i.e., Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Lagos and Ondo States) in Nigeria. Three hundred (300) secondary school adolescents were selected from selected using random sampling technique. Relevant adapted instrument with .87 reliability value was used and the data obtained was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and multiple regression statistical analysis. The result showed that students’ suicidal thought are significantly correlated with depression (r= .753; p<.05) and religiosity (r= .844; p<.05), the independent variables when pulled together have significant effect on students’ suicidal thought (R (adjusted) =.659 and R2 (adjusted) =.433) and each of the independent variables made a significant contribution to the prediction of students’ suicidal thought. In term of magnitude of contribution, depression made the most significant contribution (Beta= .477; t= 6.534; p<0.05) to the prediction follow by religiosity (Beta= .428; t= 6.534; p<0.05). In view of these findings, the study stressed that parents/guardians need to be trained on the need to monitor the students and that adolescent and educational psychologists should always intensify their effort to organize seminars and workshops for the teachers, adolescents and other significant stakeholders in society.