Associations of religiosity, attitudes towards suicide and religious coping with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in 11 muslim countries

Abstract

Objective The study investigated the associations of religiosity, religious coping and suicide acceptance to suicide ideation and attempts in 7427 young adults affiliating with Islam from 11 Muslim countries. Method A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. We used F and χ2 tests and correlation analyses to report descriptive statistics. Multi-group path models with (i) a zero-inflated Poisson distribution and, (ii) a Binomial distribution were used to model the number of occurrences of suicidal ideation, and occurrence of a suicide attempt, respectively. Results Religiosity was negatively associated with acceptability of suicide, but it was positively related to punishment after death across the 11 countries. Religiosity was negatively associated with ever experiencing suicidal ideation, both directly and indirectly through its association with attitudes towards suicide, especially the belief in acceptability of suicide. Neither positive nor negative religious coping were related to suicidal ideation. However, religiosity was negatively related to suicide attempts among those who experienced suicidal ideation at least once. This association was mediated through the belief in acceptability of suicide and religious coping. Negative religious coping was positively associated with suicide attempts probably because it weakened the protective effects of religiosity. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that the effects of religiosity in the suicidal process operate through attitudes towards suicide. We therefore conclude that clinical assessment as well as research in suicidology may benefit from paying due attention to attitudes towards suicide.

Religious Coping, Hopelessness, and Suicide Ideation in Subjects with First-Episode Major Depression: An Exploratory Study in the Real World Clinical Practice

“…However, religious coping would be protective or even disadvantageous depending on the way of coping [62]. In several studies, PRC was not a protective factor of suicide, whereas NRC was associated with a higher risk of suicide [48]. However, our study found that NRC correlated positively with higher suicide ideation, but this association was not present in the logistic regression model.…”

“…Francis et al [47] found that NRC, rather than PRC, demonstrated a significant association with depressive and anxiety symptoms, but they evaluated 622 medical students (therefore a nonclinical sample). Eskin et al [48] found that NRC was significantly associated with suicide attempts in 7427 young adults affiliating with Islam, perhaps weakening religiosity's protective effects. As well, Kopacz et al [49] evaluated a sample of 772 recently returned veterans and showed that NRC was significantly associated with suicide risk, whereas no meaningful relationships for PRC were found.…”

Suicide literacy, suicide stigma, and psychological help seeking attitudes among Arab youth

“…Islam encourages its followers to seek healthcare and to accept and treat their illnesses in order to improve their mental health and maintain their overall well-being (Koenig & Al Shohaib, 2019 ). The evidence indicates that religion plays an integral role in the lives of Muslims (Al-Shannaq et al, 2021 ; Amiri et al, 2013 ; Eskin et al, 2020 ; Shah & Chandia, 2010 ). Muslims use their religious faith, beliefs, and practices to cope and deal with life stressors and events in their lives, including illness (Al-Shannaq et al, 2021 ; Eskin et al, 2020 ; Koenig & Al Shohaib, 2019 ).…”

“…The evidence indicates that religion plays an integral role in the lives of Muslims (Al-Shannaq et al, 2021 ; Amiri et al, 2013 ; Eskin et al, 2020 ; Shah & Chandia, 2010 ). Muslims use their religious faith, beliefs, and practices to cope and deal with life stressors and events in their lives, including illness (Al-Shannaq et al, 2021 ; Eskin et al, 2020 ; Koenig & Al Shohaib, 2019 ). However, Muslims strongly believe that only Allah (God) is primarily responsible for everything, including illness (Ciftci et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Suicide is considered sinful behavior and is prohibited in the religion of Islam (Amiri et al, 2013 ; El Halabi et al, 2020 ; Eskin et al, 2019 ). Suicidal behaviors include suicidal ideations or thoughts, suicide attempts, and completed suicide that leads to ending one’s life (Eskin et al, 2020 ). Although the incidence of suicide mortality is lower in Muslim countries than in non-Muslim countries, the incidence rates of suicidal ideations and attempts in Muslim countries is higher than in non-Muslim countries (Amiri et al, 2013 ; Eskin et al, 2019 ; Eskin et al, 2016 ).…”