Risk Factors for Development of Deviant Behavior in Individuals with Different Levels of Mental Health
Authors:   Kirov Military Medical Academy, Kukhtalev Vladimir V. , Golovko Konstantin P. ,   Kirov Military Medical Academy, Yusupov Vladislav V. ,   Kirov Military Medical Academy, Mulik Aleksandr B. ,   Kirov Military Medical Academy, Bulatetskiy Sergey V. ,   Ryazan State Medical University, Shibayeva Anastasiya G. ,   Kirov Military Medical Academy, Dorofeyev Ivan I. ,   Kirov Military Medical Academy
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND: This study is the first stage in an attempt to identify sequential pathogenetic mechanisms of development of deviant behavior including complicated relationships between the physiological, psychophysiological, psychological and social levels of development of the individual.
AIM: Determination of risk factors for the development of deviant behavior with consideration to the mental health group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The object of study of risk factors for the development of deviant behavior was students of state universities of Arkhangelsk and patients of psychiatric hospitals of St. Petersburg. The study was conducted from April 2022 to September 2023. A total of 80 individuals were examined (mean age 24.2 ± 2.4), who were further divided into groups: group 1 involved practically healthy respondents with favorable prognostic signs (n = 22); group 2 included individuals with certain signs of disorders in sociopsychological adaptation (n = 38); group 3 – individuals with mental illness and deviant behavior (n = 20). As part of the study, automated ‘Choice’ methodology was used to study sociopsychological and psychophysiological characteristics. To identify factors influencing the development of deviance, principal components factor analysis was used with Quart Imax rotation.
RESULTS: In group 1, 3 factors were identified, which explained 62% of dispersion. The first factor (33% dispersion) having the highest factor weight, can be characterized as ‘Neuropsychic stability and adaptation’ reflecting peculiarities of emotional-volitional regulation. Reduction of emotional-volitional regulation in the group of ‘healthy’ individuals is interrelated with certain manifestations of neuropsychic instability. The second factor (17% dispersion), by its psychological content can be interpreted as ‘Neurodynamic balance of emotions’. The third factor, which explains 12% of dispersion, can be interpreted as ‘Psychosocial risk of deviant behavior’. Of all the parameters analyzed in the dynamics of the development of risk of deviant behavior in groups 1 and 2, the most stable was ‘Neurodynamic balance of emotions’ factor reflecting psychophysiological, emotionally significant response to stimulus. In group 3, also 3 factors were identified describing 68% of all dispersions. The first factor explaining 33% of dispersion, included parameters that characterize unstable mood, risk-taking and aggressive deviant forms of behavior, conventionally designated ‘Psychosocial risk of deviant behavior’. The second factor ‘Psychomotor activity’, which explains 19% of dispersion, included parameters showing misalignment of regulatory processes and subordination of external response to internal demands. On the third position is the factor conventionally designated as ‘Neurodynamic balance of emotions’, which explains 16% of the total dispersion. In group 2, no clearly identified factors were obtained.
CONCLUSION: The development of deviant behavior and associated sociopsychological maladaptation includes all pathogenetic factors of deviant behavior. In group 1, ‘healthy’ group, decrease in emotional-volitional regulation is interrelated with separate manifestations of neuropsychic instability. In group 2, despite a small weight of the factors, a complex interaction of physiological and psychological mechanisms of regulation of vital activity, is traced. In group3, the level of emotional-volitional behavioral regulation is closely linked with the expression of deviant forms of behavior. Weakening of emotional-volitional regulation leads to disinhibition of unconscious emotional-impulsive pathogenetic response mechanism directed to uncontrolled satisfaction of demands and drives.