Psychometric Properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric and Faith Leaders’ Readiness to Address Suicide Stigma
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Method
2.1. Participants and Procedures
2.1.1. Reliability
2.1.2. Validity
2.1.3. Readiness
3. Results
3.1. Reliability
Time 1 (test) internal consistency | Cronbach’s α = 0.84 |
Time 2 (retest) internal consistency | Cronbach’s α = 0.89 |
Test–retest reliability | Pearson’s r = 0.77 (with the assumptions of a linear relationship and normality met) |
Canonical correlation finds the linear combinations of Time 1 and Time 2, which have maximum correlation with each other. | Canonical correlations ranged from 0.93 to 0.04; the first canonical correlation being significant (Wilks’ lambda F(225, 501.77) = 2.54, p < 0.0000 **). |
Intra-class correlations by respondent | 0.77 |
Intra-class correlations by respondent over time | 0.77 |
Paired sample t-tests of the mean values of self-ratings at Time 1 and Time 2 | Means at Time 1 (M = 34.46, SD = 8.65) and Time 2 (M = 34.34, SD = 9.24) were not significantly different t(132) = 0.21, p = 0.83. |
A repeated-measures ANOVA assessed test–retest reliability while accounting for respondent and time (Borges et al. 2018). | While respondents differed significantly (F(185) = 6.68, p < 0.0000 **), the model and the respondent-by-time interaction were not significant. |
3.2. Validity
3.3. Readiness
4. Discussion
5. Strengths, Limitations, and Future Studies
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Skill | Beginning | Fundamental | Practical | Inspiring |
Attitudes about suicide | I haven’t thought much about my attitudes about suicide | I am beginning to reflect on my attitudes about suicide. | I am non-judgmental when a suicidal person talks to me, when a person who has attempted suicide talks to me, and when a survivor talks to me after his/her friend or family member’s suicide death. | I help others reflect on their attitudes about suicide. |
Culture | I haven’t thought much about how culture might affect suicide. | I am beginning to see the importance of culture but I’m not sure how to take culture into account. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I take her/his culture into account. (For example, is the suicidal person experiencing discrimination?) | I invite individuals and family members to talk about their culture and how their culture affects their engagement with suicide. |
Theological reflection | I haven’t thought much about my theology of suicide. | My theology of suicide is pretty standard. | My theology of suicide addresses the full complexity of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. | My theology of suicide is integrated with my theologies of life, death, suffering and community. |
Community building | My faith community is silent about suicide. | My faith community has some conversation about suicide but is unsure what to do. | My faith community acknowledges suicide and faith community members watch over each other. | My faith community has open conversation about suicide, has authentic relationships with each other, and openly ministers to one another. |
Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide | Preaching and teaching don’t have anything to do with suicide prevention. | In my faith community, I have on occasion mentioned suicide. | I can preach or teach about suicide. | I preach or teach to promote life to suicidal listeners. |
Knowing your role | I believe that suicide is a spiritual problem. | I believe that suicide is both a spiritual and mental health condition. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I am clear about my role as a spiritual leader or mental health professional. | My role is to create a safe space where both the mental health and spiritual conditions can be discussed. |
Listening | When a suicidal person talks to me, I am more aware of myself than of the person. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I listen and give advice. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I listen humbly without needing to know the answers. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I bring in a network of other listeners and mentor others in listening. |
Confidence | When a suicidal person talks to me, I feel inadequate. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I have a few resources but I am not confident. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I’m confident about next steps. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I do all I can but I trust God as ultimately responsible. |
Safety planning | When a suicidal person talks to me, I have no idea what to do. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I am aware of some invitations to talk about suicidal thoughts. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I know the right questions to ask. | I train others on what to do when a suicidal person talks to them. |
Referral | When a suicidal person talks to me, I don’t refer. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I am somewhat aware of my limitations of what I can do. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I know where to refer them for help. | I am part of a network or team of professionals who can help a suicidal person. |
Postvention: ministering to survivors | When a suicide death happens, I do not meet with friend(s) and family member(s)/the survivor(s) once the funeral is done. | When a suicide death happens, I meet with friend(s) and family member(s)/the survivor(s) soon after the funeral but not long-term. | When a suicide death happens, I know how to care for the friend(s) and family member(s)/the survivor(s) long-term. | As I minister to friend(s) and family member(s)/the survivor(s), I actively confront the silence and shame following a suicide death. |
Conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies | During a suicide funeral or memorial service, I am thinking about myself and how I’m doing. | During a suicide funeral or memorial service, I am focused on myself and on the friend(s) and family member(s)/the survivor(s). | I know how to conduct a suicide funeral or memorial service that is helpful to survivor(s) and faith community member(s). | I conduct a suicide funeral or memorial service keeping in mind that the healing begins at the service but continues into the future and that the message can help change the conversation about suicide. |
Postvention: Managing contagion and clusters | I don’t know what contagion and clusters are. | I know what contagion and clusters are but I don’t know how to manage them. | During a suicide funeral or memorial service, I know how to strike a balance between talking about suicide without making it sound like a good solution to life’s problems. | I manage contagion and clusters in the funeral or memorial service and beyond. |
Self-care | I am unaware of my own needs. | I know I have needs but I feel guilty when I take care of myself. | When a suicidal person talks to me, I know how to reach out for support for myself if needed. | I advocate for self-care of others. |
Guilt | I feel responsible and guilty after a suicide. | While I feel some guilt after a suicide, I realize that I don’t have full responsibility. | When a suicide death happens, I do not take on guilt. | I help others process their guilt following a suicide death. |
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Description of Sample | Change over Occasions (Comparison of Pre- and Post-Training Means) | Group Differences (Comparison of Sample 1 and Sample 2 Change Means) |
---|---|---|
Sample 1 and Sample 2 | Sample 1 change from Time 1 to Time 2: M = −0.11 (SD = 6.13) Sample 2 change from Time 1 to Time 2: 7.13 (SD = 6.47) Comparison between sample change means: F(1) = 100.73, p < 0.0000 ** | |
Sample A 18 ministerial and counseling students 30 h All 15 skills | Pre-training CSPCDR M = 34.14 (SD = 6.54) Post-training CSPCDR M = 47.47 (SD = 6.67) Change: M = 13.33 (SD = 6.54) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(17) = −8.64, p < 0.0000 ** | |
Sample B Five clergy 1 h Theological reflection Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide Safety planning Managing contagion and clusters | Pre-training on 4 skills M = 9.60 (SD = 2.70) Post-training on 4 skills M = 12.2 (SD = 2.95) Change: M = 2.60 (SD = 2.41) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(4) = −2.41, p = 0.07 | |
Sample C 84 clergy and lay ministers 3 h Theological reflection Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide Managing contagion and clusters Conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies | Pre-training on 4 skills M = 9.28 (SD = 2.61) Post-training on 4 skills M = 13.22 (SD = 2.59) Change: M = 3.94 (SD = 2.74) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(83) = −13.18, p < 0.0000 ** | |
Sample D 10 clergy and lay ministers 1 h Theological reflection Safety planning Managing contagion and clusters | Pre-training on CSPCDR M = 33.80 (SD = 7.05) Post-training on CSPCDR M = 42.80 (SD = 9.56) Change: M = 9 (SD = 7.27) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(9) = −3.91, p = 0.004 ** | |
Sample E 17 clergy and lay ministers 1 h Theological reflection Safety planning Managing contagion and clusters | Pre-training CSPCDR M = 35.12 (SD = 7.46) Post-training CSPCDR M = 44.59 (SD = 7.15) Change: M = 9.47 (SD = 5.51) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(16) = −7.08, p < 0.0000 ** | |
Sample F 16 clergy and lay ministers 6 h Theological reflection Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide Safety planning Ministering to survivors Managing contagion and clusters Conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies [15 min discussion on culture in answer to participant question] | Pre-training CSPCDR M = 34.77 (SD = 8.19) Post-training CSPCDR M = 46.77 (SD = 7.37) Change: M = 12 (SD = 9.25) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(12) = −4.68, p = 0.0005 ** | |
Sample G 19 clergy 2 h Theological reflection Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide Safety planning Managing contagion and clusters Conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies | Pre-training CSPCDR M = 40.17 (SD = 7.21) Post-training CSPCDR M = 44.72 (SD = 7.34) Change: M = 4.56 (SD = 5.25) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(17) = −3.68, p = 0.002 ** | |
Sample H 18 ministerial and counseling students 18 h online All 15 skills | Pre-training CSPCDR M = 37.06 (SD = 8.61) Post-training CSPCDR M = 49.89 (SD = 5.31) Change: M = 12.83 (SD = 7.67) Comparison between pre- and post-training means: t(17) = −7.1, p < 0.0000 ** |
Skill(s) Needed to Address Suicide Stigma (Mason 2021) | Corresponding CSPCDR Skill(s) | Sample 2 Post-Training Means on the CSPCDR Skill |
---|---|---|
Talk about suicide | Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide, Conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies | Preaching/teaching to protect against suicide M = 3.22 (SD = 0.73) Conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies M = 3.33 (SD = 0.69) |
Address the skill deficits | Listening, Confidence, Safety planning, Referral | Listening M = 3.29 (SD = 0.76) Confidence M = 3.09 (SD = 0.78) Safety planning M = 2.99 (SD = 0.67) Referral M = 3.13 (SD = 0.51) |
Practice vulnerability | Community building, Ministering to survivors | Community building M = 2.56 (SD = 1.01) Ministering to survivors M = 2.90 (SD = 0.76) |
Address the theology of suicide; a focus on harm instead of purity violations | Theological reflection | Theological reflection M = 3.45 (SD = 0.74) |
Appreciate that FC have a unique contribution; an artificial divide between mental health/suicide and faith; get leadership on board | Knowing your role | Knowing your role M = 3.44 (SD = 0.75) |
Address cultural/systemic issues | Attitudes about suicide, Culture | Attitudes about suicide M = 3.28 (SD = 0.74) Culture M = 3.11 (SD = 0.77) |
Managing contagion and clusters, Self-care, Guilt | Managing contagion and clusters M = 3.21 (SD = 0.64) Self-care M = 3.35 (SD = 0.64) Guilt M = 3.17 (SD = 0.82) |
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Mason, K.; Yoon, J.-Y.; Taylor, E.; Korver, D.; Hu, Y. Psychometric Properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric and Faith Leaders’ Readiness to Address Suicide Stigma. Religions 2021, 12, 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12070541
Mason K, Yoon J-Y, Taylor E, Korver D, Hu Y. Psychometric Properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric and Faith Leaders’ Readiness to Address Suicide Stigma. Religions. 2021; 12(7):541. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12070541
Chicago/Turabian StyleMason, Karen, Ji-Young Yoon, Elizabeth Taylor, David Korver, and Yuan Hu. 2021. "Psychometric Properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric and Faith Leaders’ Readiness to Address Suicide Stigma" Religions 12, no. 7: 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12070541
APA StyleMason, K., Yoon, J. -Y., Taylor, E., Korver, D., & Hu, Y. (2021). Psychometric Properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric and Faith Leaders’ Readiness to Address Suicide Stigma. Religions, 12(7), 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12070541