Explaining the Role of Ego Strength and the Position of Employment Status in Suicidal Tendencies of Divorced Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.

2 Master's Degree, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.

Abstract

Aim: Suicide represents a significant mental health challenge. Therefore, this study aims to establish a structural model of suicide tendencies based on ego strength, with the employment status mediating this relationship among divorced women.
 
Method: This research adopts an applicative approach using correlational analysis through structural equations modeling. The statistical population comprises divorced women covered by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee of Isfahan in 2023. Districts 2 and 3 were chosen from 5 districts using multistage sampling. A total of 270 women were selected based on Morgan and Krejcie's Table and minimum sample adequacy criteria (Smart PLS3). After excluding distorted questionnaires, 250 questionnaires were analyzed. The research instruments included the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (Beck, 1961) and the Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths (Markstrom et al., 1997).
 
Results: The findings demonstrate the significant effect of ego strength on suicidal tendencies (p ≤ 0.001, β = -0.455). Moreover, ego strength significantly and directly influences suicidal tendencies in both divorced housewives (p ≤ 0.001, β = -0.637) and divorced working women (p ≤ 0.001, β = -0.311). Multi-group analysis comparing the coefficients of ego strength on suicidal tendencies in both groups revealed a significant difference (0.326, p ≤ 0.001), indicating the mediating role of employment status in the relationship between ego strength and suicidal tendencies.
 
Conclusion: The significant mediating role of employment status suggests that reducing suicidal tendencies among divorced women can be achieved by creating suitable job opportunities through the Committee.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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