The Relationship Between Suicide Rates and Islam
Author Information
Author(s): Ajit Shah, Mahmood Chandia
Primary Institution: University of Central Lancashire
Hypothesis
There will be no relationship between general population suicide rates and the percentage of adherents of Islam.
Conclusion
The study found significant negative correlations between suicide rates and the percentage of people adherent to Islam, suggesting a potential protective effect of Islam against suicide.
Supporting Evidence
- There were significant negative correlations between suicide rates and the percentage of adherents to Islam in both males and females.
- The study controlled for socioeconomic status and income inequality.
- Previous studies have reported low suicide rates in Islamic countries.
Takeaway
The more people who follow Islam in a country, the lower the suicide rates seem to be.
Methodology
The study examined the correlation between suicide rates and the percentage of adherents to Islam using cross-national data while controlling for socioeconomic status and income inequality.
Potential Biases
The study may be affected by ecological fallacy and the validity of the data from different countries is unclear.
Limitations
Data on suicide rates may be incomplete or unreliable due to cultural factors and under-reporting, especially in Islamic countries.
Participant Demographics
The study included data from 27 countries with varying percentages of adherents to Islam.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P=0.018 for males, P=0.019 for females
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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