Features of common representations of suiciders in young people

We discuss the first phase results of a research project dedicated to study of suicide representations in youth. In the framework of structural approach to social representations, we study features of structure and content of social representations of suiciders in two groups of young people (the criterion for group allocation was their acquaintance with people who has suicide attempts). Our sample (N = 106) consisted of representatives of several youth groups (students and working youths with specialized secondary, higher or incomplete higher education), aged 18 to 35 years (M = 23,48 years, SD = 4,36 years): 67 women and 39 men. The 1st group includes respondents personally acquainted with suicide attempters (44 respondents), the 2nd group – respondents without such experience. The subject of research were common representations of suiciders. We tested assumptions about the specificity of protective functions of social representations, as well as consistency of representations in the two groups of respondents.

1. Bannikov G.S. Psihologicheskie markery presuicidal'nogo sostoyaniya// Chelovecheskii kapital. 2012. № 10–11 (46).
2. Berdyaev N. O samoubiistve (http://www.gumer.info/bogoslov_Buks/Philos/Berd/Suid.php).
3. Kamyu A. Mif o Sizife (http://philosophy.ru/library/camus/01/1.html).
4. Nasilie, napravlennoe protiv sobstvennoi zhizni i zdorov'ya//Nasilie i ego vliyanie na zdorov'e. Doklad o situacii v mire /Pod red. E.G. Kruga, L.L. Dal'berg, Dzh.A. Mersi, E.B. Zvi, R. Lozano. M., 2003.
5. Tolstoi A.K. Car' Boris (http://az.lib.ru/t/tolstoj_a_k/text_0070.shtml).
6. Holmogorova A.B., Volikova S.V. Osnovnye itogi issledovanii faktorov suicidal'nogo riska u podrostkov na osnove psihosocial'noi mnogofaktornoi modeli rasstroistv affektivnogo spektra// Medicinskaya psihologiya v Rossii. 2012. №2 (13) (http://www.medpsy.ru/mprj/archiv_global/2012_2_13/nomer/nomer11.php).
7. Abric J.-C. A structural approach to social representations// Representations of the Social: Bridging Theoretical Traditions/ Eds. by K. Deaux, G. Philog?ne. Oxford,  2001.
8. Arthi «Theres a weakness in them»: social representations of suicide in Thamil Singaporeans// Psychology and Society. 2008. Vol.1.
9. Conner K.R., Duberstein P.R., Eric Y.C., Caine  D. Reactive aggression and suicide: theory and evidence//Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2003. № 8.
10. Costa Ara?jo L. da., Leal Vieira K.F., Penha de Lima Coutinho M.da. Idea??o suicida na adolesc?ncia: um enfoque psicossociol?gico no contexto do ensino m?dio // Psico-USF (Impr.). 2010. Vol.15. № 1  (http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-82712010000100006).
11. Cristea M., Cicioc A.-M., Alexoaie R. Social Representations of Suicide among Rumanian Adolescents. Paper Presented at the 11th Lab Meeting. Rome, 2008.
12. Henden J. Preventing Suicide: the Solution Focused Approach. N.Y., 2008.
13. Moliner P. Une approche chronologique des repr?sentations sociales// La dynamique des repr?sentations sociales/ Ed.by P.Moliner. Grenoble , 2001.
14. Moscovici S. La Psychanalyse: son image et son public. P., 1961.
15. Orfali B. Active minorities and social representations: two theories, one epistemology//Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 2002. Vol. 32. № 4.
16. Verg?s P. L’Evocation de l’argent: une m?thode pour la d?finition du noyau central d’une repr?sentation// Bulletin de psychologie. 1992. T. XLV. № 405.
17. Wagner W., Duveen G., Farr R., Jovchelovitch S., Lorenzi-Cioldi F.,Markova I., Rose D. Theory and method of social representations// Asian Journal of Social Psychology.1999.  №2.
18. Westerlund M., Hadlaczky G., Wasserman D. The representation of suicide on the Internet: implications for clinicians// Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2012. Vol.14. ¹ 5 (http://www.jmir.org/2012/5/e122/#ref1).