The Role of Religion in Suicidal Behavior, Attitudes and Psychological Distress Among University Students: A Multinational Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between religion, suicidal behavior, attitudes and psychological distress in 5572 students from 12 countries by means of a self-report questionnaire. Our results showed that an affiliation with Islam was associated with reduced risk for suicide ideation, however affiliating with Orthodox Christianity and no religion was related to increased risk for suicide ideation. While affiliating with Buddhism, Catholic religion and no religion was associated with lowered risk for attempting suicide, affiliation with Islam was related to heightened risk for attempting suicide. Affiliation with Hinduism, Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, other religions and with no religion was associated with decreased risk for psychological distress but those reported affiliating with Islam evinced greater risk for psychological distress. The associations of the strength of religious belief to suicidal ideation and attempts were in the expected direction for most but had a positive relation in respondents affiliating with Catholicism and other religions. Students reporting affiliation with Islam, the Christian Orthodox religion and Buddhism were the least accepting of suicide but they displayed a more confronting interpersonal style to an imagined peer with a suicidal decision. It was concluded that the protective function of religion in educated segments of populations (university students) and in university students residing in Muslim countries where freedom from religion is restricted or religion is normative and/or compulsory is likely to be limited. Our findings suggest that public policies supporting religious freedom may augment the protective function of religion against suicide and psychological distress.

Religious Mosque Leaders (Khateebs): Awareness, Perceptions, Practices and Attitude towards Mental Health, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

“…Of note, majority of Khateebs revealed that stressful life circumstances and biosocial crises compatible with current researches could induce transient depression [66][67][68][69]. Furthermore, almost all Khateebs supported that the main reasons underlying suicide include both the fragile religious faith and mental illnesses, and other studies [70][71][72] partially supported these findings. One tenth of RMLs expressed that suicide and suicidal attempts never occurred in Saudi society that is not tenable [73][74][75].…”

Is Individualism Suicidogenic? Findings From a Multinational Study of Young Adults From 12 Countries

“…All data were collected through self-administered questionnaire forms, which included items about nonfatal suicidal behavior, religious affiliation and strength of religious belief, attitudes towards suicide and towards suicidal individuals, and individualistic-collectivistic value orientations, alongside a measure of psychological distress. The prevalence of nonfatal suicidal behavior and psychological distress, attitudes towards suicide and suicidal persons, and the associations of religion with suicidal behavior and attitudes and psychological distress have been reported elsewhere (59)(60)(61). The focus of the present account is the associations of individualistic-collectivistic value orientations with suicidal behavior, suicidal attitudes, and psychological distress.…”

Nursing students' attitudes to suicide and suicidal persons: A cross‐national and cultural comparison between Turkey and the United Kingdom

“…A further paper by Eskin et al. () on the role of religion on suicidal behaviour and attitudes found that an affiliation with Islam was associated with reduced risk for suicide ideation. However, affiliating with Orthodox Christianity and having no religion was related to increased risk for suicide ideation.…”

“…There is an increasing international interest in collaborative studies which focus on comparing students' attitudes, their prior experiences, judgements, perceptions of suicide, religiosity and cultural differences (Eskin, Kujan, et al., ; Eskin, Sun, et al., ; Eskin et al., , 2018). Three authors of these papers (LP, ME and CF) have contributed to this emerging body of work derived from 12 nations.…”

“… comparing cross-national attitudes towards suicide and suicidal persons in university students showed that the highest suicide acceptance scores were observed in Austrian, UK, Japanese and Saudi Arabian samples and the lowest scores were noted in Tunisian, Turkish, Iranian and Palestinian samples. A further paper byEskin et al (2017) on the role of religion on suicidal behaviour and attitudes found that an affiliation with Islam was associated with reduced risk for suicide ideation. However, affiliating with Orthodox Christianity and having no religion was related to increased risk for suicide ideation.Eskin et al (2018) reported in another paper, reflecting on whether measured individualism vs. collectivist outlooks amongst young adults from 12 countries, affected their views.…”