The Relationship Between Religious Orientation, Coping Strategies and Suicidal Behaviour

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Suicidal behavior is a significant public health concern among youth.
• Understanding risk factors like coping strategies and demographic differences is crucial for prevention.
• Religious orientation's role in mitigating or exacerbating suicidal behavior requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between religious orientation, coping strategies, and suicidal behavior in adolescents and college students.
• To compare suicidal behavior prevalence between secondary school adolescents and college students.
• To identify specific coping strategies associated with increased suicidal behavior risk.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional online survey design.
• 196 participants (73 adolescents, 123 college students).
• Utilized Religious-Orientation Scale-Revised, Brief COPE, and Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised.

Main Results:

• Secondary school adolescents showed significantly higher odds of suicidal thoughts and behavior (OR 4.40, p=0.032).
• Avoidant coping strategies were strongly associated with increased odds of suicidal thoughts and behavior (OR 1.118, p<0.001).
• Religious orientation's specific impact was not detailed in the provided abstract but was a variable of interest.

Conclusions:

• Malaysian secondary school adolescents face a heightened risk for suicidal behavior.
• Avoidant coping mechanisms are a critical risk factor for suicidal ideation and behavior.
• Urgent psychological interventions are recommended for Malaysian secondary school adolescents to mitigate suicide risk.