The role of the dark triad and the experience of violence in the creation and dissemination of self-destructive online content by adolescents and youth

Abstract

IntroductionResearch in recent years has raised an important question about the role of the Internet in the self-injurious and suicidal behavior of adolescents and youth.ObjectivesThe aim of this work is to study the role of the experience of violence in real life and the dark triad in the creation and dissemination of self-destructive content among adolescents and youth.Methods827 Russian students aged 15-25 (59% female) сompleted the questionnaire and the “Dirty Dozen” (Kornilova, et al., 2015).ResultsTwo-thirds of respondents have seen self-harm (72%) and suicidal (66%) content. Every seventh respondent (14%) is at risk, because he creates, approves with likes or disseminates self-destructive content among peers. Respondents at risk are more likely to have experienced physical (χ2=9.8, p<0.01), psychological (χ2=4.36, p<0.05) and sexualized (χ2=7.44, p<0.01) violence. Respondents who have a higher machiavellianism are more likely to approve (F=17.96, p=0.00) and disseminate (F=6.07, p<0.05) self-destructive content, less often using the «report» (F=4.06, p<0.05). Adolescents who have a higher psychopathic are more likely to create (F=7.34, p<0.01), disseminate (F=23.27, p=0.00) and approve (F=23.92, p=0.00) it.ConclusionsSelf-destructive online content is seen by most teens and youth, and every seventh creates, approves and distributes it among peers, being a victim of violence in real life and having potential tendencies towards self-harm or suicidal behavior. Teens and youth with higher machiavellianism and psychopathy can create and disseminate self-destructive content due to their own psychological problems, but also potentially involve others. Research was supported by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, project 20-013-00857.DisclosureResearch was supported by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, project 20-013-00857.