Development of a questionnaire for identifying autoaggressive and heteroaggressive tendencies in adolescents

Abstract

Introduction. Among the leading causes of deaths in young people aged 15-29, interpersonal violence is the third most common cause, and suicide – the fourth one. Autoaggression and heteroaggression are considered as interrelated phenomena conditioned to a great extent by biological and personality factors. For more effective diagnostics, it is important to pay attention not only to the psychological characteristics of the adolescent but also to the social aspects of his/her life. The aim of the study was to develop a questionnaire for identifying autoaggressive and heteroaggressive tendencies in adolescents. Materials and methods. A total of 606 respondents took part in the study – 58.8% girls and 41.2% boys. The respondents’ ages ranged from 13 to 19. Autoaggressive tendencies were investigated using the Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire. Aggressive behaviour was assessed using the Bass-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Due factors were identified using the principal components method. The reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s α coefficient; the validity was verified by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results. A proprietary questionnaire was developed to identify autoaggressive and heteroaggressive tendencies in adolescents. Target indicator responses were set for each measured parameter (levels of heteroaggression and autoaggression) amidst all possible answers to the questionnaire. The overall arithmetic score was a basis for calculating the autoaggression and heteroaggression indexes. The mean value of the autoaggression index was 7.7841. The distribution of answers showed that 19.5% of the respondents had an autoaggression index value of 12 and higher, which determined the choice of this value as the limit of the norm. The proven correlation between predisposition to aggression and increased risk of suicidal behaviour allows using the index of 20% to assess the prevalence of heteroaggressive tendencies in the population. The mean value of the heteroaggression index was 9.0767. The heteroaggression index value was 13 and higher in 19.7% of the respondents, which determined the choice of this value as the limit of the norm. Besides, it is necessary to take into account that, when completing the questionnaire, the respondent tends to give socially approved answers. Therefore, a person who scored 0 is included in the risk group. Conclusions. The sociological method makes it possible to identify the most disadvantaged groups that need preventive and corrective work. The developed questionnaire allows a school psychologist or a class teacher to assess the prevalence of certain tendencies in the class and to individualise help at the next stage.