Are adolescents engaged in violent radicalization suicidal?

Abstract

Radicalization among adolescents is a rising phenomenon that has become a public health concern in Europe. According to some authors, violent radicalization by resorting to self-violence could be a form of suicidal behavior. However, evidence-based studies to support this assertion are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the issue of suicidality among adolescents engaged in violent radicalization. We compared a group of radicalized adolescents convicted of criminal association to commit terrorism (AMT) in France (N=15) with hospitalized adolescents who have attempted to end their lives (N=320). This comparative study is based on two samples from two studies that used the same instruments to assess psychiatric diagnoses, suicide risk, reasons for living, and coping. AMT adolescents were significantly less suicidal and less depressive/hopeless than adolescents with suicide attempts (SAs). AMT adolescents showed fewer instances of depressive and borderline personality disorders but more manic and psychotic episodes than SA adolescents. They also had much more efficient coping strategies than SA adolescents, especially for the following strategies: seeking professional help, relational support and spiritual support. All the subscores of the reasons for the living scale were significantly higher for AMT adolescents than for SA individuals, apart from the subscore on peer acceptance and support. Adolescents engaged in violent radicalization cannot be considered suicidal adolescents who have found an opportunity to end their lives through the process of radicalization. Understanding this phenomenon within a social, political and cultural context is necessary.