The Role of Social Support and Spiritual Wellbeing in Predicting Suicidal Ideation Among Marginalized Adolescents in Malaysia

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2019 Jun 15

PMID 31196009

Citations 10

Authors

Norhayati Ibrahim

Normah Che Din

Mahadir Ahmad

Noh Amit

Shazli Ezzat Ghazali

Suzaily Wahab

Nor Bayah Abdul Kadir

Fatimah Wati Halim

Mohd Radzi Tarmizi A Halim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The high number of adolescents and young adults harbouring suicidal ideation, as reported by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, is alarming. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the association between social support and spiritual wellbeing in predicting suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents.

Methods: A total of 176 adolescents in selected urban areas in the states of Wilayah Persekutuan and Selangor were selected. The Suicide Ideation Scale (SIS) was used to measure the level of severity or tendency of suicidal ideation. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to measure the perceived social support received by the respondent while the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (SWBS) was used to measure the religious wellbeing (RWB), the existential wellbeing (EWB) and the overall score of spiritual wellbeing (SWB).

Results: The study found that both RWB and EWB showed significant negative correlation with suicidal ideation. Similarly, support from family and friends also showed a negative correlation with suicidal ideation. Further analysis using multiple regressions showed that RWB and SWB, and family support predict suicidal ideation in adolescents.

Conclusion: Spiritual wellbeing in combination with family support plays a major role in predicting suicidal ideation. Therefore, intervention for encompassing spirituality and family support may contribute to a more positive outcome in suicidal adolescents.

Citing Articles

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