Comparison of coping mechanisms in patients with intentional poisoning with the control group

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Mashhad University o Medical Sciences

2 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is considered a major public health problem in human societies, and it seems that social relations, environmental stress and the way an individual deals with these factors play an important role in the occurrence of suicide. The aim of the present study was to investigate various coping mechanisms and their relationship with suicide attempts.
Methods: This case-control study was perfomed on patients referred to Imam Reza Hospital (AS) in Mashhad, Iran. Forty patients who had referred to the poisoning department of the hospital due to suicide attempts were included in the study with convenient sampling method. On the other hand, 40 patients who were similar to the case group in various aspects were selected and included in the study. Data collection was done using a checklist including demographic information and the method and manner of committing suicide. Also, a questionnaire based on the Lazarus theory has been used to investigate coping mechanisms.
Results: Among the coping mechanisms, the score related to the mechanisms of positive feedback, self-control, and seeking social support was significantly lower in the case group (P=0.020, P=0.016, P=0.040, respectively). Avoidance and dreamlike mechanisms were more common in the case group than in the control group, however, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.65 and P=0.10, respectively).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that coping mechanisms can reduce or increase the risk of suicide, depending on whether they are efficient or ineffective. However, more studies are necessary to prove this relationship.

Keywords

medical journal of mashhad university of medical sciences
Volume 67, Issue 1
March and April 2024

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