Suicidal Ideation, Plans, and Attempts in a Sample of Iranian Students: Prevalence and Some New Risk and Protective Factors

Abstract

Although suicide is a major cause of death among young people worldwide, few studies has been done on the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Muslim students. In addition, no studies were found on the relationship between students’ suicidal ideation with premarital romantic relationships and the five daily Islamic prayers. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation in a sample of Iranian university students, and to study its relationship with romantic relationships and the five daily Islamic prayers. The methodology involved 421 available Iranian university students completing a questionnaire asking about current and past suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and associated potential risk/protective factors. Of the subjects, 15.9% reported lifetime suicidal ideation, 11.9% lifetime suicide plan, and 7.8% lifetime suicide attempt. Male gender, marital separation, substance use, and other- sex romantic relationships were associated with increased odds of lifetime suicidal ideation (p<0.05), while female gender, the five daily Islamic prayers, and religious salience were associated with reduced odds. Limitations of this study include its small sample size and low generalizability. Suicidal ideation may be more prevalent than expected in the university students. The role of Islamic prayers and romantic other- sex relationships deserves further study in this regard.