Prevalence, psychosocial correlates of youths’ suicidal behaviors and perspectives on the phenomena at Zagazig University: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

Background Suicidal behaviors are major public health concerns that affect large numbers of youth, leaving not only the youth but also their parents, family, friends, and peers in constant wailing. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, psychosocial correlates, and perspectives of youths’ suicidal behaviors. A concurrent mixed-methods descriptive study was used in carrying out this study. This study was conducted at Zagazig University, Al Sharkia Governorate. A stratified multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to enroll 364 youths. Four tools were used to collect quantitative data. They were as follows: The Youth Profile Questionnaire, composed of two parts (socio-demographic data and youth characteristics), the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised Short Form (SPSI-R-SF), and the Short Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). For the qualitative part, focus group discussions were conducted to explore youths’ perspectives on the phenomenon of suicidal behaviors. Results Quantitative findings revealed that 25% of the youth participants had a significant risk for suicidal behaviors. Being female, in the first years of practical faculties and having no friends are significantly correlated with suicidal behaviors. Further, the quality of life had a statistically significant negative correlation with suicidal behaviors. Qualitative findings were discussed under one main category: youths’ perspectives about suicidal behaviors (pressure/escaping tool, seeking help/ending pain, attention-grabbing behavior, and stain for life). Conclusions According to this mixed-methods study, youths’ suicidal behaviors are prevalent multifaceted phenomena that certain factors have been correlated with. It is suggested that female sex, having no friends, and academic stressors are risk factors for suicidal behaviors. Also, the quality of life was introduced as a protective factor against suicidal behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended to implement prevention and management approaches to realize the complexity of the phenomena of suicidal behaviors among youth; these approaches target the youths themselves (mental health promotion and strategies for coping with stress) and the population (careful media coverage, limit access to suicidal methods, and raise the awareness about mental illness).

The relationship between social problem-solving and suicidal ideation and behavior in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

“…There was high between-study heterogeneity, Q (5) = 65.07, p < .001; I 2 = 92%; τ = .21; τ 2 = .04. Visual inspection of the Baujat plot and influence diagnostic tests suggested one study was an outlier and an influential case (Abozaid et al, 2022). When this study was removed, the size of the relationship between social problem-solving and suicide risk increased ( r = −.29, 95% CI [−.43, −.14], p < .001, I 2 = 87%).…”

“…One possible explanation for the outlier study (Abozaid et al, 2022) is that the SPSI-R-SF had not been validated in the language it was used in, and may therefore not be accurately assessing social problem-solving. More specifically, the SPSI-R-SF was translated from English to Arabic by the study authors.…”

Suicide and depressive symptoms possible correlates among a sample of Egyptian physicians: observational cross-sectional study (online survey)

“…The male-to-female ratio of suicide is higher in physicians than in the general population [63]. The WHO report about rates of suicide in Egypt stratified by gender reported higher rates in males than females [55]. The more stressful work environments men face in surgical specialties and isolation hospitals during epidemics could contribute to these findings.…”

“…However, strong social support and religious beliefs-as more than 99% of the population are either Muslims or Orthodox Christianshelp in decreasing the suicide rates in comparison to the worldwide average. According to WHO statistics, Egypt has a suicide rate of 3.4 per 100,000 people, compared to an average of 9.0 worldwide [53,55]. This low rate of suicide may additionally be due to defects in surveillance leading to under-reporting consequences.…”