SOCIAL DEPRIVATION AS A RISK FACTOR FOR MENTAL MALADJUSTMENT AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF UKRAINIANS

Abstract

The purpose – to investigate the risk factors of adolescent mental maladjustment.Research materials and methods. The diagnostic method of the clinical interview (MCI),clinical- psychopathological and statistical method were used among 30 (13 girls and 17boys) socially deprived adolescents of school age to detect mental maladjustment.The results. It has been established that psycho- emotional stress, neurotic changes andinstability of emotional reactions, especially in deprived teenagers, are caused by psychotraumatic situations (acute or chronic) and an unsatisfactory social and psychologicalclimate in the family, home, and educational institution.Strong emotional experiences of 62 % of girls (9 persons) were due to the breakup offriendships, a small number – 28 % (4 persons) due to punishment for failure at school andthe least due to the indifference of others 24 % (3 persons). Three girls noted 2 signs each.Among young people, emotional and stressful situations were caused in the largest partdue to the indifference of others – 72 % (12 people), a fairly high rate due to the breakupof friendly relations – 32 % (5 people) and the least was observed in cases of punishmentfor failure – 6 % (1 person). One young man noticed 2 signs in himself. Among thoseexamined, 70 % of teenagers were witnesses of psychological bullying, 27 % of the subjectsperiodically insulted their peers at school, and 1 boy (3 %) admitted that he sufferedbeatings from high school students. The difference is probable (Р<0.001) in comparisonwith indicators of mental and physical violence. No one described themselves as criminals.Conclusions. The application of ways to reduce or eliminate family and sociopsychological deprivation in society among the growing generation of Ukrainianteenagers will create conditions for the harmonious and comprehensive development ofthe personality that is in the process of formation.