Examining the Relationship Between Social, Economic, and Cultural Anomie and Suicide Attempts (Case Study: Ilam Province)
Subject Areas : Research on Iranian social issuesvali bahrami 1 , rostam menati 2 , Taha ashayeri 3
1 - Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Education Department, Farhangian University, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor of Sociology, Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of History and Sociology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
Keywords: Social anomie, Economic anomie, Cultural anomie, Suicide attempts, Ilam.,
Abstract :
Suicide has been a social reality and a significant issue in Iran, particularly in Ilam Province over the past three decades (Ghasemi, Havasbeygi, & Rezaei Nasab, 2022). Ilam Province represents a society in transition (from tradition to modernity), characterized by social disorganization, with anomie being one of its empirical manifestations. Anomie, or a state of normlessness, refers to a condition where traditional norms are weakened without being replaced by new ones (Durkheim, 2019). This loss of a sense of direction and increasing societal concerns heighten the tendency to commit suicide. In the transitional society of Ilam, the traditional social order has undergone fundamental changes in recent years, leading to a significant weakening of traditional norms. A review of regional data shows that the five-year average suicide rate (2016–2020) in Kermanshah Province (11.8 per 100,000 people) and Ilam Province (11.5 per 100,000 people) is among the highest in the country (Ayasseh, Ahmadi, Ghaffari Nasab, & Khosravi, 2021; Menati, Niazi, Toosang, & Kassani, 2020). According to a study conducted in 2017, the standardized incidence of suicide in Ilam Province is 20.8 per 100,000 people, which is considered very high. Since 1977, the expansion of semi-industrial developments has disrupted and transformed the livelihood and technological dimensions, consequently affecting the cultural and social structures in Ilam Province. These changes have accelerated issues such as unemployment, poverty, increased competition for jobs, uncertainty about the future, distrust, and confusion. Simultaneously, social and cultural events -both positive and negative- have emerged, suggesting that the rise in suicides in recent years in Ilam Province is attributable to the anomic conditions of society. Accordingly, the primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between anomie (social, cultural, and economic) and suicide attempts.
Keywords: Social anomie, Economic anomie, Cultural anomie, Suicide attempts, Ilam.
Research Method
This study employs a quantitative survey method, utilizing a researcher-made and standardized composite questionnaire for data collection. The statistical population comprises male and female citizens aged 15 years and older in Ilam Province in 2021. The sample size, determined using the Cochran formula, was 515 individuals, and the sampling method was multi-stage cluster sampling. Initially, based on the provincial map, counties were divided into two northern and southern strata (stratified sampling). Subsequently, using the cluster sampling method, three counties were randomly selected from the north (Ilam, Ivan, and Malekshahi) and two from the south (Darehshahr and Abdanan). Stratified sampling was then conducted to distinguish urban and rural areas within each county, and individuals were randomly selected from each stratum. The R-SBQ standard questionnaire for suicidal behaviors (suicide attempts), developed by Field, Diego, and Sanders (2001), was used to measure suicidal behavior in the present study. This instrument includes four subcategories: non-suicidal, dangerous suicidal thoughts, individuals with a suicide plan, and those who attempt suicide.
Findings
Descriptive findings show that, out of the total sample, 271 participants (52.9%) were male and 241 (47.1%) were female, with 3 individuals not responding. The age distribution was as follows: 15–25 years (192 or 37.6%), 25–35 years (139 or 27.2%), 35–45 years (91 or 17.8%), 45–55 years (48 or 9.4%), and over 55 years (41 or 8%). Regarding marital status, 255 participants (49.9%) were single, 249 (48.7%) were married, and 7 (1.4%) were widowed or divorced. Regarding educational attainment, 264 participants (51.7%) held university degrees and 12 (2.3%) were illiterate. The average social anomie score was 24.38, with a standard deviation of 4.97, ranging from 14 to 36. The average economic anomie score was 14.12, with a standard deviation 5.07, ranging from 5 to 25. The average cultural anomie score was 11.01, with a standard deviation of 4.63, ranging from 6 to 26. The average suicide attempt score was 70.42, with a standard deviation of 23.24, ranging from 31 to 155. Inferential findings reveal significant relationships between social anomie and suicide attempts (Pearson correlation: 0.400, p=0.001), cultural anomie and suicide attempts (Pearson correlation: 0.320, p=0.000), and economic anomie and suicide attempts (Pearson correlation: 0.290, p=0.000). Multiple regression results demonstrate that economic anomie (β=0.187), cultural anomie (β=0.112), and social anomie (β=0.102) collectively explain 11.6% of the variance in suicide attempts.
Conclusion
The results demonstrate a significant relationship between economic anomie and suicide attempts. Ilam Province, with a population of 580,000, is one of the least populated provinces in the country; however, its unemployment rate is relatively high. Unemployment in Ilam Province, along with an unfavorable business environment, job insecurity, lack of appropriate production conditions, abrupt economic changes, and unstable economic circumstances (such as inflation and unpredictability), has led individuals to withdraw from social institutions. These conditions of economic anomie result in diminished social participation and increased individualism, as collective job networks are unstable and collective participation becomes impossible. In conditions of economic anomie, suicide is not merely a result of economic hardships; rather, the semantic and psychological dimensions contribute to individuals losing their coherence and interaction with the world, thereby reducing their participation and effectiveness over time. A significant relationship between social anomie and suicide attempts was also observed, with social anomie explaining 10.2% of the variance in suicide attempts. Social anomie reflects unfavorable social capital conditions, including declining trust, cohesion, participation, support, and social belonging. The average social capital score in Ilam Province was 2.81 (on a scale of 1 to 5), slightly below average. Declining social capital and increasing distrust have contributed to reduced social support and a rise in suicide attempts. Cultural anomie is also significantly associated with suicide attempts (explanatory coefficient: 0.112). The severity of cultural anomie increases the likelihood of suicide attempts. Cultural anomie in Ilam can be attributed to the tribal nature of the society, where tribal behavior fosters cooperation within one’s group but hostility toward others. This conflict between tradition (tribal behavior) and legal/civil institutions leads to distrust, elite migration, and the inefficiency of institutional systems. The promotion of cultural anomie exacerbates lying, flattery, and individualism while reducing adherence to moral obligations, religion, and ethical conduct. This chaotic cultural state heightens the propensity for suicide as culture fails to guide behaviors, needs, and desires. This study aimed to examine the relationship between anomie (social, economic, and cultural) and suicide attempts in Ilam Province. As in any scientific research, factors such as sampling limitations and reliance on self-reporting tools can affect the validity of findings, and this study is no exception. One of the most significant limitations is the restricted geographic scope of the research, which focused solely on Ilam Province. Therefore, the results of the study may not be fully generalizable to other provinces or populations. Additionally, the study only included individuals aged 15 and older, leaving out specific groups such as adolescents or the elderly, who may have different experiences with social and economic crises. Another limitation of this study is the dependence on self-reporting instruments. In this research, suicidal behaviors were measured using standardized questionnaires, requiring participants to honestly report their experiences and thoughts. This process might be influenced by social taboos and cultural pressures surrounding suicide, leading to distorted reports. Given the sensitivity of the suicide topic, some respondents may not have been able to fully express their feelings and experiences, which could impact the accuracy of the results. Moreover, this study was conducted in 2021, and the impact of recent economic and social crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on individuals' mental health may influence the findings. Therefore, the results of this study should be considered in the context of its temporal and geographic setting. To extend the findings and improve the accuracy of results in future research, it is recommended that the geographic scope of the study be expanded to include other provinces and cities in Iran. This would help identify differences and similarities in the relationship between anomie and suicide in various communities, providing more accurate data for policymakers and decision-makers. Additionally, future research could focus on specific age groups, such as adolescents, young adults, and the elderly, to better understand how anomie impacts these groups differently. Each of these groups may be differently affected by social, economic, and cultural changes. Another suggestion is to employ a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) in future studies. This combination could assist researchers in measuring not only the quantitative indices of anomie and suicide but also the qualitative aspects, such as personal experiences and emotional responses to social and economic pressures. Furthermore, future studies could investigate other factors influencing suicide, such as mental health, social networks, family experiences, and other individual and social variables. This study's findings offer insights that could be valuable for developing policies and operational programs aimed at reducing suicide rates and addressing social anomie. To mitigate the effects of economic anomie, it is recommended that government authorities and related organizations prioritize support programs, such as creating sustainable employment, increasing access to healthcare and psychological services, and providing financial support to families affected by economic crises. These measures could help reduce feelings of purposelessness and social isolation in individuals, thus preventing the exacerbation of economic problems. Furthermore, given the significant relationship between declining social capital and increased suicide attempts, it is recommended that programs be designed to strengthen social trust, cooperation, and participation in social activities. Such programs could enhance social bonds, trust, and mutual support in the community, thereby alleviating the negative effects of social anomie. On the other hand, strengthening cultural identity and promoting moral and social values at the community level can help reduce cultural anomie and, in turn, lower suicide attempts. This could be achieved by raising public awareness and promoting a spirit of cooperation and social solidarity through the media and educational institutions.
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