Authors : Mehran Zarghami , Jamshid Yazdani Charati , Saieed Haji Mirza Esmaeli and Gholam Reza Mir-Sepassi
Abstract: Many studies have been conducted on various aspects of suicide in different countries and many researchers have emphasized on understanding the relationship between cultural background and suicide. Research in this country has shown that most of Iranians look at the religion as a protective factor in stressful situations. Current study aims to evaluate the relationship between the degree of suicidal intent and religious activities. Two groups were selected. The cases were chosen from Deliberate Self Poisoning (DSP) patients presenting to Accident and Emergency (A and E) Department of a university hospital in Sari, an Iranian city located at the southern border of Caspian Sea. Control group consisted of those patients who have been referred to the same department for other reasons (without any history of deliberate self harm). Possible risk factors of suicide, severity of suicidal intent and religious practice were compared in two groups. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Spearman rank correlation, Mann-Whitney test and logistic regression. Two groups were matched for age, sex, education and socioeconomic state. Mean for severity of suicidal intention in cases was 22�6.5 (Range 6-34). There was no statistically significant difference between two sexes. Mean score for religious practice was the same in two sexes both in case and control group. There was a statistically significant association between the degree of suicidal intent and scores in religious practice. But the mean score for religious practice was greater in controls than cases. Although cases used religious coping mechanisms, these were employed less than they were used in the controls. It seems that with more severe suicidal ideation, more use of religious mechanisms occurred. However, this was less than control group who did not have a history of suicidal attempt.
Mehran Zarghami , Jamshid Yazdani Charati , Saieed Haji Mirza Esmaeli and Gholam Reza Mir-Sepassi , 2008. Degree of Suicidal Intent and Religious Practice. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3: 480-485.