The role of rumination in explaining suicidal tendencies among widowed women in Jordan

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the levels of psychological rumination (repetitive thinking) and suicidal tendencies among widowed women, to explore the degree of the influence of psychological rumination on suicidal tendencies. The research employed a descriptive methodology, appropriate for the study's objectives. The results revealed a moderate level of psychological rumination among the sample. On the suicidal tendencies scale, the Attraction to Life subscale showed a high level, whereas the Repulsion from Life subscale ranked lowest, showing a low level. The findings also indicated that psychological rumination acts as a stimulating factor for suicidal tendencies. Statistically significant differences were observed, attributable to the effect of age at widowhood on the psychological rumination scale, with differences favoring the age group under 25 years. No significant differences were found across all subscales of suicidal tendencies except for Repulsion from Life, where differences also favored the same age group (under 25 years). Furthermore, no differences attributable to educational level were recorded either in overall psychological rumination or in the subscales of suicidal tendencies. Regarding employment status, significant differences were found in the level of psychological rumination, favoring unemployed women. Conversely, no differences were observed in the subscales of suicidal tendencies except for Repulsion from Life, where differences also favored unemployed women. Finally, differences attributable to having children were recorded in the level of psychological rumination, favoring women with children, while no differences were found in the subscales of suicidal tendencies except for Attraction to Life, where differences favored women with children.