Svitlana Sytnik, Valentyna Bulgakova SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENTS’ DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN CRISIS CONDITIONS

(2026) Science and education, 3, 91-97. Odessa.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.24195/2414-4665-2026-3-10

Svitlana Sytnik,
Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor,
Professor at the Department of the Theory and Methodology
of Practical Psychology,
The state institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University
named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
26, Staroportofrankivska, Str., Odesa, Ukraine,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5875-919X

Valentyna Bulgakova,
Lecturer at the Department of Theory and Methodology of Practical Psychology,
The state institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
26, Staroportofrankivska, Str., Odesa, Ukraine,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2911-0724

 

SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENTS’ DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN CRISIS CONDITIONS

SUMMARY:

The article presents the results of a study of the socio-psychological characteristics of adolescents’ deviant behavior under crisis conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between manifestations of post-traumatic stress, self-esteem, and propensity for various forms of deviant behavior among adolescents aged 14–15 years. The study involved 72 adolescents. The following instruments were used: O. Orel’s method for diagnosing propensity for deviant behavior, the Ukrainian-language version of the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) in its Ukrainian adaptation. Descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and the Mann-Whitney U test were applied to process the results. A positive CATS screening result was identified in 44.4% of the participants. The overall level of post-traumatic symptoms was positively correlated with all the studied deviant tendencies. The strongest relationship was found with propensity for self-injurious and self-destructive behavior (r=0.641; p<0.01), as well as with propensity to violate norms and rules (r=0.460; p<0.01). Self-esteem showed negative correlations with propensity for aggression and violence (r=-0.502; p<0.01), insufficient volitional control of emotional reactions (r =-0.492; p < 0.01), and delinquent tendencies (r=-0.456; p<0.01). Adolescents with a positive CATS screening result demonstrated higher levels of propensity to violate norms and rules, addictive behavior, self-injurious and self-destructive behavior, aggression and violence, as well as insufficient volitional control of emotional reactions. The findings indicate that more pronounced post-traumatic symptoms are associated with stronger deviant tendencies, whereas more positive self-esteem is associated with a lower propensity for certain forms of deviant behavior.

KEYWORDS:

adolescents, deviant behavior, crisis conditions, post-traumatic stress, self-esteem, aggression, self-injurious behavior

FULL TEXT:

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