ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Studies show that religion and spirituality are associated with decreased rates of mental illness. Some studies show decreased rates of suicide in religious populations, but the association between religion, spirituality and suicidal behaviors in people with mental illness are understudied. Few studies have examined the influence of social supports in these relationships. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between spiritual values and religious worship attendance with twelve-month suicidal ideation and attempts. Regressions were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and social supports. Interaction variables were then tested to examine possible effect modification by presence of a mental disorder. RESULTS: Identifying oneself as spiritual was associated with decreased odds of suicide attempt (adjusted odds ratio-1 [AOR-1]=0.65, CI: 0.44-0.96) but was not significant after adjusting for social supports. Religious attendance was associated with decreased odds of suicidal ideation (AOR-1=0.64, 95% CI: 0.53-0.77) but not after adjusting for social supports. Religious attendance was associated with decreased odds of suicide attempt and remained significant after adjusting for social supports (AOR-2=0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.89). No significant interaction effects were observed between any of the tested mental disorders and religion, spirituality and suicidal behavior. LIMITATIONS: This was a cross-sectional survey and causality of relationships cannot be inferred. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that religious attendance is associated with decreased suicide attempts in the general population and in those with a mental illness independent of the effects of social supports.
Subject(s)
Spirituality , Suicide/psychology , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Canada/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Social Support , Socioeconomic Factors , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the association between cancer diagnosis, mental disorders and suicidal behavior among community dwelling adults. METHODS: Data were drawn from the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 (N=36 984, response rate 77%, age 15+). Respondents were grouped into three age groups (15-54, 55-74, and 75+ years), and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between cancer and mental disorders: unadjusted and adjusted for sociodemographics, social supports and other mental disorders. RESULTS: Among respondents aged 15-54, cancer was associated with increased odds of major depression (odds ratio [OR]=3.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69-5.96), panic attacks (OR=2.15; 95% CI: 1.22-3.77) and any mental disorder. Among respondents aged 55-75, cancer was associated with increased odds of agoraphobia (OR=5.94; 95% CI: 1.68-21.03) and decreased odds of social phobia (OR=0.22; 95% CI: 0.06-0.80). Cancer was not associated with any mental disorder in the 75+ age group. Results persisted after adjustments for the covariates. Suicidal ideation was associated with cancer in the 55-74 age group (OR=5.07; 95% CI: 1.25-20.47) in unadjusted models; however, this relationship became non-significant when adjusting for the other covariates. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider screening for depression and panic disorder in young, community dwelling patients with cancer.
