The Tendency to Auto-aggressive Behavior in Adolescents and the Information they consume on the Internet

The tendency to auto-aggressive, including suicidal, behavior in adolescents is a variant of deviant tendencies, which are formed under the influence of different factors. The consummation of destructive information on the Internet has been considered lately as one of such factors. The goal of this study was finding a correlation between auto-aggressive tendencies, character and frequency of consummation of destructive information on the Internet. Content-analysis and semantic analysis of verbal and visual content in a range of groups in the Internet allowed distinguishing groups with destructive information and a specially developed inventory - finding out the frequency of visiting these groups by adolescents. The sample consisted of 62 juveniles (mean age - 15.0 +/- 1.0) who were divided into two categories of "visiting" and "non-visiting" destructive groups in the Internet. The results showed significant correlations between the frequency of visiting destructive Internet groups and auto-destructive and suicidal tendencies in adolescents. Moreover, there were broader correlations of these visits with other kinds of deviant tendencies. The correlation between the consummation of destructive information and such individual features as aggressiveness and anxiety were found. The data can be used in prevention of auto-aggressive behavior of adolescents.