Features of the Correlation Structure of Identity of Adolescents with Suicidal Attempts

Tulitbaeva Galina Fanilevna ORCID: 0000-0002-3754-9473 PhD in Psychology Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Support and Clinical Psychology, Ufa University of Science and Technology 3/4 Karl Marx str., Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450000, Russia tulitbaevagf@rambler.ru Other publications by this author     Safina Lyaisan Faritovna Master's degree, Department of Psychological Support and Clinical Psychology, Bashkir State University 450000, Russia, Republic of Bashkortostan, Ufa, Zaki Validi str., 32 sammerrain74@yandex.ru Other publications by this author     Giniyatova Zul'fiya Mukhtarovna ORCID: 0000-0002-1138-9088 PhD in Pedagogy Associate Professor, Department of General Psychology, Ufa University of Science and Technology 450000, Russia, Republic of Bashkortostan, Ufa, Karl Marx str., 12 mahmutova73@rambler.ru

Safronova Elena Vasil'evna Senior Lecturer, Department of General Psychology, Ufa University of Science and Technology 450000, Russia, Republic of Bashkortostan, Ufa, Karl Marx str., 12 tulitbaevagf@rambler.ru

Introduction. The database on population mortality created by the World Health Organization (WHO) makes it possible to determine that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years. It should be noted that the WHO believes that the situation with teenage suicides in Russia is particularly difficult: Russian teenagers are more likely than their peers from other countries to voluntarily end their lives ^[1].

According to another source, 3,064 attempted and completed suicides among teenagers were recorded in Russia in the first half of 2021. This is 43% more than in 2020, when there were 2,146 suicides and attempts to commit them.

As numerous sources indicate, a large number of suicides are primarily related to the unstable situation in the world. In most sources, the exact count and recorded peak of suicide is considered to be the Covid pandemic that swept the whole world in 2019 and continues to this day. Forced self–isolation, emotional stress, anxiety, depressive mood - this is how the public mood of the last three years has been characterized, all this contributes to the appearance of thoughts of suicide. This is stated in particular by WHO Director General Tedros Adanom Ghebreyesus ^[2]. In addition, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) ^[3] expresses concern about the potential increase in the number of suicides due to the economic crisis, social isolation, medical problems, etc.

The emotional sphere of adolescents is particularly at risk in an unstable situation. It is in this age group that there is a surge in suicides. In addition, during adolescence, the structure of identity is the most dynamic and influenced by various factors.

The problem of identity in psychology

The problem of identity is not new to psychology, its research as an independent phenomenon dates back to the beginning of the XX century.

At the moment, it is known that identity is formed and develops throughout life. In turn, the success of these processes depends on many factors.

A purposeful study of identity is presented in the works of E. Erickson. The author considered identity as a complex personal education, expressed in the recognition of a certain similarity with other people and simultaneous uniqueness and uniqueness ^[4].

E. Fromm's view on the problem of identity is important for our work. The author considered her a significant personal characteristic. Thus, E. Fromm distinguished two complementary tendencies in the construction of the "self-image": individualization (as a differentiation of personality from other people, nature and the material world) and identification (as an association with social norms, values, ideas). As a result of the action of the first trend, personal identity develops, we would say personal in the modern context, and the second leads to the formation of social identity. At the same time, it is important to note that the contradictions generated by the interaction of personal and social identities become both a source of personality development and the cause of its neuroticism and the sphere of psychological assistance. But E. Erickson considered the formation of identity in the normal conditions of personality socialization, while in our work we pay attention to the identity of a person in conditions of partial isolation due to the pandemic. In addition, according to E. Fromm, the need for identity promotes harmonization and freedom, which are achieved through the activity of the individual. The formation of identity contributes to satisfying the need for communication and avoiding loneliness ^[5].

Important provisions for our research are contained in the theories of social identity by A. Taifel ^{[6; 7]} and self-categorization by J. Turner ^[6]. They describe that identity is determined through an individual's awareness of the emotional significance of belonging to a social group. One of the characteristics of adolescence is precisely the awareness of belonging to a group, which in the context of a pandemic is partially satisfied due to the persistence of contacts ^[8].

In the modern understanding, identity is "a property of the human psyche in a concentrated form to express for him how he imagines his belonging to various social, economic, national, professional, linguistic, political, religious, cultural, gender, racial and other groups or other communities, or identification with one or another person, as an embodiment of the properties inherent in these groups or communities" ^[9].

V.B. Nikishina, E.A. Petrash, personal identity is understood as an integrative structure that includes the perception of oneself as "I am about myself". This perception of oneself allows an individual to abstract from himself, see himself from the outside, and subsequently rely on the image as reality ^[10].

According to the ideas of the Russian researcher L.B. Schneider, personal identity is "self–reference, i.e. the feeling and awareness of the uniqueness of the "I" in its existence and the uniqueness of personal qualities, in the presence of its belonging to social reality" ^[11].

O.V. Vaskova, adapting the methodology for diagnosing social identity, took as a basis the definition of A Typhel. Under social identity, the author considered "those aspects of the "Self-Image" of a person that arise from the social categories to which he feels he belongs" ^{[12, p. 292]}.

Suicidal behavior in adolescents

The relevance of the problem of teenage suicide forms a special approach to the issue. When considering suicidal behavior in adolescents, all researchers point to an age crisis combined with instability of the emotional sphere, the formation of interpersonal contacts and relationships, as well as identity.

The distinctive features of suicide in adolescents, according to A.G. Ambrumova, are insufficient criticality regarding the consequences of their actions and connectivity with deviant behavior ^[13].

A.B. Kholmogorova and S.V. Volikova identify a group of personal factors among the social and family factors of suicide, including anxiety, perfectionism, and inability to cope with stress ^[14].

Foreign researcher E. Schneidman associates adolescent suicides with unmet needs, such as the need for autonomy, positive self-perception, and maintaining relationships, i.e. closely related to personal identity ^[15].

T. Joyner's theory reduces the causes of suicides to the social situation of development. In particular, the perceived burden on others by the teenager and the lost sense of belonging. In an empirical study on a sample of adolescents with an increased level of suicidal risk due to interpersonal problems, it was shown that a lost sense of belonging (including in the family), combined with a high level of perceived burdensomeness, is associated with a higher frequency and severity of suicidal thoughts ^[16].

Thus, all of the above dictates the need to study personal and social identity in adolescents with suicidal attempts, especially since identity reaches its peak in adolescence. At this time, the teenager is actively comprehending his life in general and his place in the system of public relations in particular ^[17]. In addition, the issue is particularly relevant at the present pandemic time, when there has been a significant increase in suicides among this age group.

The aim of the study was to study the characteristics of social and personal identity in adolescents with suicidal behavior.

Selection

Two samples were selected for the study: adolescents with a history of suicidal attempts, since suicidal attempts are the most significant factor for identifying characteristics in suicides, and adolescents without suicidal attempts. At the time of the study, all teenagers who attempted suicide were undergoing rehabilitation at the GBUZ Republican Clinical Psychotherapy Center and GBUZ RB Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital. This group consisted of 42 teenagers, including 22 boys and 20 girls.  The average age of the subjects is 17 years old.

To study the comparative data, a group of adolescents without suicidal intentions was identified, which consisted of 84 students of the MAOU "Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 93" of the Ufa city of the Republic of Belarus. These are students of the eleventh grade, among them 22 boys and 20 girls.

Research methods

The research methods were the following tools: the methodology of personal identity research (V.B. Nikishina, E.A. Petrash); the methodology of personal identity research (L.B. Schneider); the questionnaire of social identity (O.V. Vaskova).

Statistical methods of analysis: calculation of arithmetic averages and standard deviations; nonparametric U-Mann-Whitney criterion, correlation analysis using the method of Charles Pearson. Calculations were performed using the SPSS software (version 17.0).

The hypothesis of the study was the following assumption: there are differences in the interrelations (correlational pleiades) of personal and social identity in the two selected groups of adolescents. The hypothesis is based on E. Erickson's assumption that the contradictions generated by the interaction of personal and social identities become both a source of personality development and the cause of its neuroticism and the sphere of psychological assistance and the desire to test the differences in the interrelation of identities in two groups of adolescents.

The results of the study

Prior to the study of correlational identity structures in two groups of adolescents, the differences between the samples were clarified (described in other articles by the authors). Statistically significant differences were revealed in the groups of adolescents with suicidal behavior and adolescents without suicidal intentions in terms of "socio-psychological adaptation", "personal identity", "top-down comparison". Significant differences were not established on the scales of "centrality", "ingroup feelings", "ingroup connections", "self-understanding", "pastime", "cohesion", "intergroup competition and comparison".  

To clarify the identified and described variables of socio-personal identity, to determine the structure of relationships, the use of correlation analysis of data using the H criterion is provided. Pearson's. The results of the revealed correlations are presented in Figures 1, 2. 

So, among the selected indicators of socio-personal identity in adolescents with suicidal behavior, 13 pairs of significant correlations were revealed, showing the relationship of components in the personality structure. It should be noted that all studied variables of personal and social identity were subjected to correlation analysis. However, in the personality structure of adolescents with suicidal attempts, no reliable interrelations of indicators of social identity with personal identity were found, there are only interrelations of various indicators of social identity. This may indicate that the perception of oneself, one's self, is in conflict with the feeling of oneself in society, in interpersonal relationships, perhaps not understanding how I find expression in contacts with other people.

Let's take a closer look at the relationship of the corresponding indicators of social identity in adolescents with suicidal attempts and undergoing rehabilitation in specialized institutions.

The closest and strongest correlations were found between the scales "cohesion" and "pastime" (rxy = 0.883, p = 0.00), "intergroup competition" (rxy = 0.851, p = 0.00), "top-down comparison" (rxy = 0.878, p = 0.00), "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.855, p = 0.00). Such results may indicate that the more cohesion is manifested in interpersonal relationships, the more teenagers tend to spend time together informally and feel satisfied that they study in this team, the higher the degree of their competition with members of other groups, the more they consider themselves more successful than classmates.

Fig. 1. Correlation pleiades of social identity indicators in a group of adolescents with suicidal attempts, correlation coefficient

A positive correlation is noted between the scales "intergroup competition" and "pastime" (rxy = 0.744, p = 0.00), "top-down comparison" (rxy = 0.873, p = 0.00), "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.799, p = 0.00), "cohesion" (rxy = 0.851, p = 0.00). The more often teenagers compare their class with other classes, the more they spend time in an informal setting, consider themselves more successful than others and are more satisfied with their class, the more united they are.

"Pastime" as a category of social identity, showing the definition of the intensity and favorability of informal relationships in a group, is interrelated with "intergroup competition" (rxy = 0.774, p = 0.00), "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.786, p = 0.00), "cohesion" (rxy = 0.883, p = 0.00), "top-down comparison" (rxy = 0.813, p = 0.00). Such data indicate that the higher the desire of teenagers to spend time with their classmates, the higher the degree of competition between group members, satisfaction with membership in this group, as well as comparing themselves with other members in their favor.

An indicator containing an individual's satisfaction/dissatisfaction with membership in his group is "collective self-esteem", which is closely related to such social identity variables as "intergroup competition and comparison" (rxy = 0.799, p = 0.00), "pastime" (rxy = 0.786, p = 0.00), "downward comparison" (rxy = 0.834, p = 0.00), "cohesion" (rxy = 0.855, p = 0.00). The more satisfied an individual is with membership in his group, the higher the competition in horizontal comparison, the desire to spend time within this group and cohesion.

Thus, in the group of adolescents with suicidal attempts, mutual connections between indicators of social identity were found:  "pastime", "collective self-esteem", "cohesion", "intergroup competition" and "top-down comparison". At the same time, there is no relationship between indicators of social and personal identity.

Fig. 2. Correlational pleiades of indicators of social and personal identity in a group of adolescents without suicidal attempts,

 correlation coefficient

Among the selected indicators of socio-personal identity in adolescents without suicidal intentions, 12 pairs of significant correlations were revealed, showing the interrelation of components in the personality structure. Note that, unlike adolescents who have committed suicide, adolescents with no history of suicidal intentions have a relationship between the indicator of social identity ("cohesion") and personal identity (rxy = 0.354, p = 0.00). Such results indicate that high indicators of cohesion correspond to high indicators of personal identity, frequent comparison of one's class with others, feeling better than others and satisfaction with one's class.

The remaining relationships in adolescents without suicidal intentions were found between different indicators of social identity. Let's look at the connections of the corresponding indicators of social identity in more detail.

The largest number of positive correlations were found between the variables "cohesion" and "personal identity" (rxy = 0.354, p = 0.00), "top-down comparison" (rxy = 0.550, p = 0.00), "interpersonal competition and comparison" (rxy = 0.558, p = 0.00), "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.664, p = 0.00), "pastime" (rxy = 0.872 , p = 0.00). High indicators of cohesion correspond to high indicators of personal identity (awareness of one's self, its uniqueness), frequent comparison of one's class with others, feeling better than others and satisfaction with one's class.

Such an indicator of social identity as a "top-down comparison" is interrelated with "intergroup competition" (rxy = 0.755, p = 0.00), "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.405, p = 0.008), "pastime" (rxy = 0.49, p = 0.001), "cohesion" (rxy = 0.55, p = 0.00).  The data suggest that when comparing themselves with their classmates, teenagers consider themselves more successful than them, intergroup competition is more evident, they are more satisfied with classroom relationships, try to spend time in an informal setting and a higher level of cohesion.

The "pastime" scale positively correlates with "top-down comparison" (rxy = 0.490, p = 0.00), "intergroup competition" (rxy = 0.550, p = 0.00), "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.639, p = 0.00), "cohesion" (rxy = 0.872, p = 0.00). The more the subjects strive to have fun in the company of their classmates, the more often they consider themselves better than others, compare their class with others, are satisfied with their class and consider it cohesive.

The scale of "intergroup competition" is positively correlated with "collective self-esteem" (rxy = 0.379, p = 0.013), "pastime" (rxy = 0.55, p = 0.00), "cohesion" (rxy = 0.558, p = 0.00), "top-down comparison" (rxy = 0.755, p = 0.00). The higher the degree of competition of an individual as a member of his group with other groups, the more often they feel better than others, are satisfied with the membership of the group and can have fun in the society of their class.

So, according to the results of the correlation analysis, both in the group of adolescents without suicidal intentions and in the group of adolescents with suicidal behavior, there are correlations between indicators of social identity: "pastime", "collective self-esteem", "cohesion", "intergroup competition" and "top-down comparison". In addition, in the group of adolescents without suicidal attempts, there is a connection between the indicator of social identity (cohesion) and personal identity.

Discussion

The results of the study suggest the following features of identity in adolescents. According to the results of the correlation analysis, both in the group of adolescents without suicidal intentions and in the group of adolescents with suicidal behavior, correlations were found between indicators of social identity: "pastime", "collective self-esteem", "cohesion", "intergroup competition" and "top-down comparison". In addition, in the group of adolescents with a history of suicidal attempts, no associations of any indicators of social identity with personal identity were found. In adolescents without suicidal intentions, reliable correlations were established between the indicator of social identity – "cohesion" and "personal identity".

The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the data obtained in counseling, psychotherapy, psychoprophylactic and educational work with adolescents, including those who have committed a suicidal act. The results of the study can be applied in the work on the formation and development of identity in adolescents.

Conclusions

The global changes that have begun, the unstable social situation has changed not only the way of life of the world's population, but also affected the mental side and personality of people. These changes are most clearly visible in the younger generation. Adolescence has come into our field of vision – one of the most critical ages in human life and the most important structure forming at this age is identity. A significant increase in the number of suicides and suicide attempts among adolescents may also be due to changes in the emerging identity. 

There is no conflict of interest.