The Association Between Personal, Affective, and Cognitive Factors and Suicide Risk Among Muslims in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Mental Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide risk is a significant public health concern influenced by various personal, affective, and cognitive factors.
• Understanding the interplay of these factors is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.
• Previous research has explored individual risk factors, but a comprehensive examination within specific cultural contexts is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between personal, affective, and cognitive factors and suicide risk.
• To identify key predictors of suicide risk in a Muslim population in Turkey.
• To examine the roles of psychological distress, self-esteem, and perception of God in suicide risk.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design with 423 participants (74% female) aged 18-64 in Turkey.
• Data collected using the Psychological Distress Scale, Perception of God Scale, Two-Dimensional Self-Esteem Scale, and Suicide Probability Scale.
• Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation and Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regression.

Main Results:

• Personal, affective, and cognitive factors explained 58% of the variance in suicide risk.
• Psychological distress showed the strongest positive association with suicide risk (β=0.136, p<0.001).
• Self-esteem exhibited the strongest negative association with suicide risk (β=-0.454, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Female gender, history of suicide attempt, and psychological distress are significant risk factors for suicide.
• Age, positive parent-child communication, self-esteem, and a positive perception of God are protective factors against suicide.
• Findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological distress and enhancing self-esteem and spiritual well-being in suicide prevention.