Forced marriage, domestic violence, and suicidal ideation among married individuals: a population-based study from Western Iran

BACKGROUND: Suicide remains a critical public health issue worldwide. In Iran, particularly in the western province of Kermanshah, forced marriage and domestic violence are prevalent social problems that may contribute to suicidal ideation among married individuals. This study aimed to examine the association between forced marriage, physical intimate partner violence (IPV), and suicidal ideation, while exploring the protective roles of social support and resilience. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in 2024 with 369 married adults aged 18-59 years from Kermanshah city. Participants were selected through multi-stage sampling from diverse socioeconomic areas. Data were collected using validated questionnaires including Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and a demographic checklist. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of suicidal ideation. RESULTS: In this study, 24.1% of people reported suicidal ideation, 33.9% experienced forced marriage, and 22.2% experienced physical IPV. Suicidal ideation was significantly higher among those exposed to forced marriage (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.32-4.61, P < 0.01), physical IPV (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.24-4.74, P < 0.01), history of attempted suicide (OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.01-6.22, P < 0.05), suicide attempts in the family (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.07-4.60, P < 0.05), history of mental disorders (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.04-4.38, P < 0.05), female gender (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.01-4.11, P < 0.05), and suicide attempt in friends (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.06-3.84, P < 0.05). Conversely, higher social support (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.98, P < 0.05) and resilience (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, P < 0.01) were significantly protective against suicidal ideation. The model explained up to 41% of the variance in suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Forced marriage and domestic violence are significant risk factors for suicidal ideation among married individuals in Kermanshah, while social support and resilience serve as protective factors. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive interventions targeting harmful social practices and strengthening psychosocial resources to reduce suicide risk in this population.