ELEMENTAL STATUS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PREDISPOSITION OF THE RUSSIAN POPULATION TO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR1

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To determine the role of chemical environmental factors in the formation of prerequisites for the development of various vectors of deviant behavior in men and women in population groups united by the territory of residence within the borders of the Russian Federation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 1815 students permanently residing in the territories of 14 regions of Russia. The elemental status was determined by the content of 25 chemical elements in the hair samples. According to a set of standard indicators of psychological status, the risk of developing various vectors of deviant behavior was assessed. RESULTS: Reactive aggressiveness in men is negatively associated with the content of potassium (p = 0.016), sodium (p = 0.05) and beryllium (p = 0.044), and in women it is positively associated with the content of zinc (p = 0.005). Depression and the level of suicidal ideation show systemic connections in men with lithium deficiency (p = 0.018 and p = 0.022, respectively), and in women with selenium deficiency (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively). The risk of alcoholism is statistically significantly negatively associated in men with the content of zinc (p = 0.001), lithium (p = 0.026), selenium (p = 0.027) and calcium (p = 0.049), and in women with the content of boron (p = 0.02) and phosphorus (p = 0.044). The level of drug consumption is statistically significantly positively associated in men with the content of silicon (p 0.001), nickel (p = 0.002), magnesium (p = 0.005), lead (p = 0.007), selenium (p = 0.011) and tin (p = 0.012), and in women with the content of aluminum (p = 0.005), selenium (p = 0.021) and iron (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The role of biologically significant chemical elements in the formation of prerequisites for the development of various vectors of deviant behavior is specified.