title: Can Religious Beliefs be a Protective Factor for Suicidal Behavior? A Decision Tree Analysis in a Mid-Sized City in Iran, 2013.
abstract: This study aimed to assess using tree-based models the impact of different dimensions of religion and other risk factors on suicide attempts in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Three hundred patients who attempted suicide and 300 age- and sex-matched patient attendants with other types of disease who referred to Kerman Afzalipour Hospital were recruited for this study following a convenience sampling. Religiosity was assessed by the Duke University Religion Index. A tree-based model was constructed using the Gini Index as the homogeneity criterion. A complementary discrimination analysis was also applied. Variables contributing to the construction of the tree were stressful life events, mental disorder, family support, and religious belief. Strong religious belief was a protective factor for those with a low number of stressful life events and those with a high mental disorder score; 72 % of those who formed these two groups had not attempted suicide. Moreover, 63 % of those with a high number of stressful life events, strong family support, strong problem-solving skills, and a low mental disorder score were less likely to attempt suicide. The significance of four other variables, GHQ, problem-coping skills, friend support, and neuroticism, was revealed in the discrimination analysis. Religious beliefs seem to be an independent factor that can predict risk for suicidal behavior. Based on the decision tree, religious beliefs among people with a high number of stressful life events might not be a dissuading factor. Such subjects need more family support and problem-solving skills.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baneshi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Haghdoost
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zolala
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Nouzar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakhaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center (HPRC), School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Building No 2, Eighth Floor, Zand Avenue, Shiraz, 71348-53185, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center (HPRC), School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Building No 2, Eighth Floor, Zand Avenue, Shiraz, 71348-53185, Iran. m.akbari45@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbari
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D065840:Protective Factors; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: Classification tree model; Religious beliefs; Stressful life events; Suicidal behavior; Suicide attempt