TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - The Role of Religion in Suicidal Behavior, Attitudes and Psychological Distress Among University Students: A Multinational Study
JO  - Transcultural psychiatry
A1  - Eskin, Mehmet
A1  - Poyrazli, Senel
A1  - Janghorbani, Mohsen
A1  - Bakhshi, Seifollah
A1  - Carta, Mauro Giovanni
A1  - Moro, Maria Francesca
A1  - Tran, Ulrich S.
A1  - Voracek, Martin
A1  - Mechri, Anwar
A1  - Aidoudi, Khouala
A1  - Hamdan, Motasem
A1  - Nawafleh, Hani
A1  - Sun, Jian-Min
A1  - Flood, Chris
A1  - Phillips, Louise
A1  - Yoshimasu, Kouichi
A1  - Tsuno, Kanami
A1  - Kujan, Omar
A1  - Harlak, Hacer
A1  - Khader, Yousef
A1  - Shaheen, Amira
A1  - Taifour, Shahama
SP  - 853
EP  - 877
VL  - 56
IS  - 5
N2  - 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1363-4615
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1363461518823933
ID  - ref1
ER  -