Reasons for living and their protective value: A Turkish sample

Sahin N., DURAK BATIGÜN A., Sahin N.

ARCHIVES OF SUICIDE RESEARCH, vol.4, no.2, pp.157-168, 1998 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 4 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 1998
  • Doi Number: 10.1023/a:1009691405299
  • Journal Name: ARCHIVES OF SUICIDE RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.157-168
  • Keywords: reasons for living, suicide, Turkey, PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES, UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS, ATTEMPTED SUICIDES, COLLEGE-STUDENTS, DEPRESSION, INVENTORY, HOPELESSNESS, BEHAVIOR, INSTRUMENTS, INDIVIDUALS
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Turkey has a comparably low rate of suicide internationally; however, a slow but constant increase is occurring. Deaths due to suicide peak in males among 15-24 and 25-34 year olds. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the various variables (e.g., depression, loneliness) associated with suicide; specifically, the reasons for living. The results indicate, as predicted, that people with more optimism towards life are less prone to depression and loneliness. In this Turkish sample, females were significantly more optimistic, a finding divergent from the international literature to date. Cultural factors and related contradictory findings in the West are discussed (e.g., moral/religious values).