Addiction and religiosity in facing suicide: A qualitative study on meaning of life and death among homeless people

This qualitative research explores the relationship between religiosity, suicide thoughts and drug abuse among 55 homeless people, interviewed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analyzing the thematic structure of the participants’ narrations, important main themes appeared in order to a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ines Testoni, Salvatore Russotto, Adriano Zamperini, Diego De Leo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-06-01
Series:Mental Illness
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/mi/article/view/7420
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This qualitative research explores the relationship between religiosity, suicide thoughts and drug abuse among 55 homeless people, interviewed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analyzing the thematic structure of the participants’ narrations, important main themes appeared in order to avoid suicide, among which family, the certainty of finding a solution and the will to live. However, the suicide ideation inheres in about 30% of participants, almost all believers, addicted and/or alcoholics. Results suggest that religiosity and meaning of death neither prevent from substances abuse and alcoholism, nor is a protective factor against suicide ideation. Meanings of life are the most important reasons for living, and when they are definitively considered unworkable, alcohol and drug help to endure life in the street. A specific model is discussed.
ISSN:2036-7457
2036-7465