Psychosocial indicators of suicidal ideation among acid attack survivors
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
ISSN: 2056-4902
Article publication date: 10 October 2022
Issue publication date: 16 May 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to probe the relationship of facial disfigurement, stigmatization, burdensome, hopelessness and suicidal ideation in acid attack survivors and to scrutinize the mediating role of perceived burdensome and hopelessness in connection between facial disfigurement, social stigmatization and suicidal ideation among acid attack survivors.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from Holy Family Hospital which is located in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Acid Survivors Foundation and social media sites. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the sample. Sample comprised of N = 74 acid attack survivors. English version of discrimination and stigma scale, interpersonal needs questionnaire perceived burdensome scale, suicidal ideation attributes scale, Beck hopelessness scale and observer-rated facial disfigurement scale were used for the assessment. Statistical analysis includes correlation and mediation analysis through process macro.
Findings
Results indicated significant positive relationship between facial disfigurements, unfair treatment, stopping self and perceived burdensome with suicidal ideation, whereas overcoming stigma, hopelessness and positive treatment present a negative relationship with suicidal ideation. Results of the current study also showed that burdensome and hopelessness appear as significant mediator in association between facial disfigurement, social discrimination and suicidal ideation. This study provides the awareness about how by decreasing the hopelessness and perceived burdensome and resolving social stigmatization can minimize suicidal ideation and risks accompanying it.
Originality/value
This research covers a topic that violates human rights, it is a topic that never gets old and people are still facing its effects.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Compliance with ethical standards: The ethical approval for the research was obtained from Institutional Review Board, Foundation University Islamabad. The present study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Consent: All the participants involved in the research signed consent form to participate in the research.
Data availability: The data analysed in current research is available upon request.
Citation
Asif, S., Khan, S., Butt, T.A., Mehmood, A., Zulfiqar, A. and Mubashar, T. (2024), "Psychosocial indicators of suicidal ideation among acid attack survivors", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 210-220. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-06-2022-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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