Problematic Life and Suicide Attempt (A Qualitative Study Among Citizens Aged 18–40 in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province)

Suicide attempt, as a form of social action, emerges within the context of complex individual and structural interactions and is influenced by cultural factors.This study, using the grounded theory method, explores the lived experiences of individuals aged 18 to 40 in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, investigating the social and cultural factors leading to suicide attempts and the formation of a problematic life.A problematic life refers to a life experience marked by numerous and intricate challenges that place individuals at risk.In this study, 14 in-depth interviews were conducted using purposive and snowball sampling with men and women, both married and single, who had attempted suicide.Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding.The research identified five main categories.Findings revealed that problematic life is shaped under the influence of generational conflicts, pressures from traditional marriage norms, revenge-driven motivations, emotional loneliness, and the declining social stigma surrounding suicide.These categories form a problematic cycle, progressing from a troubled life experience to the act of suicide, constructed as a social process.The core category, "The Suicide Cycle: From Problematic Life to Problematic Suicide," reflects the complex interaction of social, cultural, and individual factors and a recurring sense of hopelessness and helplessness that culminates in suicide attempts.The findings show that within the tribal and clan-based context of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, tensions between tradition and modernity generate feelings of powerlessness and isolation among youth, pushing them toward suicidal behavior.These results underscore the necessity of cultural and social interventions to prevent suicide in the region.