Suicide risk factors in adolescence: ranking and interrelation

Introduction. Identification of suicide risk factors makes it possible to provide timely support to a teenager and avoid the irreversible consequences of solving existential problems. The aim of the study was to identify the structure and severity of suicide risk factors and their relationship in middle-aged and older adolescents. The study identified combined groups of factors that provoke suicidal risk at different stages of adolescence. Materials and methods. The methodology "Suicide risk questionnaire" by T.N. Razuvaeva was used. The study involved 235 students in grades 7-10 (Age = 15.4 years). The correlation analysis of the results was carried out using the Pearson criterion. Results. The study revealed numerous correlations between risk factors. The differential and typological features of the structure of the severity of risk factors and protection factors in different age periods of adolescence are revealed. The most pronounced factors are "Breaking down cultural barriers", "Social pessimism" and "Maximalism", the most pronounced factors are "Affectivity", "Inconsistency" and "Demonstrativeness", the least pronounced are "Uniqueness" and "Time perspective". The structure of the severity of the factors of middle-aged and older adolescents turned out to be relatively invariant. At the age of crisis (13-14 years), the factors of "Social pessimism" and "Affectivity" dominate. Discussion and conclusions. The revealed direct average correlations (0.6) between the severity of the factor/rank and the number of high correlations between the factors confirm the expediency of considering risk factors as a combined integrated model with a low variable structure. The hierarchical components of the structure are the factors "Breaking down cultural barriers", "Maximalism", "Social pessimism" and "Affectivity". The combination of these factors requires the use of psychocorrectional techniques aimed at reducing the risk of suicide. The results obtained make it possible to specify preventive work with adolescents in order to prevent suicidal behavior.