B H Amit1, A Krivoy2, I Mansbach-Kleinfeld3, G Zalsman4, A M Ponizovsky3, M Hoshen5, I Farbstein6, A Apter7, A Weizman2, G Shoval2. 1. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Research Unit, Geha Mental Health Center, PO Box 102, 4910002 Petah Tikva, Israel. Electronic address: Dr.ben.amit@gmail.com. 2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Research Unit, Geha Mental Health Center, PO Box 102, 4910002 Petah Tikva, Israel. 3. Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Research Unit, Geha Mental Health Center, PO Box 102, 4910002 Petah Tikva, Israel; Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 5. Research Institute, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. 6. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. 7. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated the association between religiosity and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors specifically in adolescents, yielding inconsistent results. To date, no study has examined this relationship in a Jewish adolescent cohort. METHODS: Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, as well as depression, were assessed in a nationally representative sample of Jewish adolescents (n=620) and their mothers, using the Development and Well-Being Assessment Inventory (DAWBA) structured interview. Degree of religiosity was obtained by a self-report measure. RESULTS: Using multivariate analysis, level of religiosity was inversely associated with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (Wald χ(2)=3.95, P=0.047), decreasing the likelihood of occurrence by 55% (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.2-0.99), after adjusting for depression and socio-demographic factors. This model (adjusted R(2)=0.164; likelihood ratio χ(2)=7.59; df=1; P<0.047) was able to correctly classify 95.6% of the patients as belonging either to the high or low risk groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating religiosity to have a direct independent protective effect against self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in Jewish adolescents. This finding has clinical implications regarding risk assessment and suicide prevention. Further research can potentially elucidate the complex relationship between religiosity, self-injury and suicide in this population.
PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated the association between religiosity and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors specifically in adolescents, yielding inconsistent results. To date, no study has examined this relationship in a Jewish adolescent cohort. METHODS: Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, as well as depression, were assessed in a nationally representative sample of Jewish adolescents (n=620) and their mothers, using the Development and Well-Being Assessment Inventory (DAWBA) structured interview. Degree of religiosity was obtained by a self-report measure. RESULTS: Using multivariate analysis, level of religiosity was inversely associated with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (Wald χ(2)=3.95, P=0.047), decreasing the likelihood of occurrence by 55% (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.2-0.99), after adjusting for depression and socio-demographic factors. This model (adjusted R(2)=0.164; likelihood ratio χ(2)=7.59; df=1; P<0.047) was able to correctly classify 95.6% of the patients as belonging either to the high or low risk groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating religiosity to have a direct independent protective effect against self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in Jewish adolescents. This finding has clinical implications regarding risk assessment and suicide prevention. Further research can potentially elucidate the complex relationship between religiosity, self-injury and suicide in this population.
Authors: P J Chen; N Mackes; C Sacchi; A J Lawrence; X Ma; R Pollard; M Matter; C Morgan; S Harding; G Schumann; C Pariante; M A Mehta; G Montana; C Nosarti; P Dazzan Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2022-03-30 Impact factor: 6.892