The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults
Abstract Background Religion and spirituality have been introduced as a protective or risk factor for suicidal behaviors from different perspectives, so studies need to address this issue. The present study examined the role of religious-spiritual struggles and psychological well-being in predicting...
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Springer
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Discover Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00261-y |
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| author | Sara Hojatitabar Mehdi Khezeli Zeinab Jamshidi |
| author_facet | Sara Hojatitabar Mehdi Khezeli Zeinab Jamshidi |
| author_sort | Sara Hojatitabar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Religion and spirituality have been introduced as a protective or risk factor for suicidal behaviors from different perspectives, so studies need to address this issue. The present study examined the role of religious-spiritual struggles and psychological well-being in predicting suicidal behaviors in a sample of adults in western Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 407 adults from Kermanshah city, western Iran, between February and April 2024. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), the Religious and Spiritual Struggles (RSS) Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being (PWB) Questionnaire (18 items). Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of suicidal behaviors. Results In the present study, 78 (19.2%) of the participants were included in the group with suicidal behaviors. The results of the main variables showed that higher PWB was associated with a lower chance of suicidal behavior (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87–0.98, p-value = 0.007), and higher RSS were associated with a higher chance of suicidal behavior (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08, p-value = 0.043). Women were approximately 2.5 times more likely to have suicidal behaviors than men (OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.37–5.92, p-value = 0.005). History of suicide attempt in family and friends was associated with 3 and 1.7 times chance of being in suicidal behavior group, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that PWB was associated with a lower likelihood, while RSS was associated with a higher likelihood of suicidal behaviors among Iranian adults. Additionally, being female and having a history of suicide attempts in family and friends were related to an increased probability of suicidal behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of considering psychological and religious-spiritual factors in understanding the correlates of suicidal behaviors, although longitudinal studies are needed to examine causal relationships. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dbedcf269b404585b99956105deb9ee4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-4383 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-dbedcf269b404585b99956105deb9ee42025-08-20T03:45:48ZengSpringerDiscover Mental Health2731-43832025-08-015111310.1007/s44192-025-00261-yThe role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adultsSara Hojatitabar0Mehdi Khezeli1Zeinab Jamshidi2Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Khomeini and Mohammad Kermanshahi and Farabi Hospitals, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSocial Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Health Policy and Promotion Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesStudents Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Religion and spirituality have been introduced as a protective or risk factor for suicidal behaviors from different perspectives, so studies need to address this issue. The present study examined the role of religious-spiritual struggles and psychological well-being in predicting suicidal behaviors in a sample of adults in western Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 407 adults from Kermanshah city, western Iran, between February and April 2024. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), the Religious and Spiritual Struggles (RSS) Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being (PWB) Questionnaire (18 items). Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of suicidal behaviors. Results In the present study, 78 (19.2%) of the participants were included in the group with suicidal behaviors. The results of the main variables showed that higher PWB was associated with a lower chance of suicidal behavior (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87–0.98, p-value = 0.007), and higher RSS were associated with a higher chance of suicidal behavior (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08, p-value = 0.043). Women were approximately 2.5 times more likely to have suicidal behaviors than men (OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.37–5.92, p-value = 0.005). History of suicide attempt in family and friends was associated with 3 and 1.7 times chance of being in suicidal behavior group, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that PWB was associated with a lower likelihood, while RSS was associated with a higher likelihood of suicidal behaviors among Iranian adults. Additionally, being female and having a history of suicide attempts in family and friends were related to an increased probability of suicidal behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of considering psychological and religious-spiritual factors in understanding the correlates of suicidal behaviors, although longitudinal studies are needed to examine causal relationships.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00261-yPsychological well-beingReligious and spiritual strugglesSuicidal behaviorsAdultsIran |
| spellingShingle | Sara Hojatitabar Mehdi Khezeli Zeinab Jamshidi The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults Discover Mental Health Psychological well-being Religious and spiritual struggles Suicidal behaviors Adults Iran |
| title | The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults |
| title_full | The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults |
| title_fullStr | The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults |
| title_short | The role of psychological Well-being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in Iranian adults |
| title_sort | role of psychological well being and religious spiritual struggles in explaining suicidal behaviors in iranian adults |
| topic | Psychological well-being Religious and spiritual struggles Suicidal behaviors Adults Iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00261-y |
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