THE ATTITUDE TO THE MEANING IN LIFE IN UKRAINIAN ADOLESCENTS WITH SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

Abstract

The paper presents the empirical study of relationship between lack of meaning in life and suicidal behavior in adolescents. There are no sufficient data about influence of meaning in life on adolescents’ suicides in Ukraine. The total sample of the study was 589 people. The study was conducted in secondary schools of the city of Odessa (of 10 secondary schools). They were covered by various types of educational institutions: secondary schools, a gymnasium, lyceum, college and boarding school. The work was performed within the framework of the Swedish-Ukrainian project to study the mental health of adolescents (Headed by prof. Rozanov VA) in collaboration with the Swedish national center for the suicide research (supervisor prof. D. Wasserman), supported by the Swedish Institute (Swedish Institute). Total number of interviewers who conducted the survey was 9 people. The minimum number of respondents interviewed by one interviewer was 34 people, maximum — 105 people. The average age of respondents was 14,866 years (SD = 1,107 years). «Existential pattern», which means three levels of suicidal tendencies and one influence factor, was presented as a model. Among all other relationships the strongest (d = 0,480, p < 0,01) was discovered between the lack of meaning in life and suicidal thoughts. The relationship between the lack of meaning in life and suicidal plans was weaker (d = 0,278, p < 0,01). And between the lack of sense of life and suicidal attempts– the weakest (d = 0,081, p < 0,01).«Existential pattern», which means three levels of suicidal tendencies and one influence factor, was presented as a model. Among all other relationships the strongest (d = 0,480, p < 0,01) was discovered between the lack of meaning in life and suicidal thoughts. The relationship between the lack of meaning in life and suicidal plans was weaker (d = 0,278, p < 0,01). And between the lack of sense of life and suicidal attempts– the weakest (d = 0,081, p < 0,01).