PREREQUISITES OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF SIBERIA: COGNITIVE RISK FACTORS (PART II)

Introduction. Cognitive risk factors for suicidal behavior were revealed in adolescents of Siberian indigenous peoples: dysfunctional attitudes, a tendency to excessive generalization, a subjective feeling of insolubility of life's difficulties. However, the importance of cognitive factors in the formation of suicidal behavior is not limited to a distorted cognitive scheme, but covers a wider range of mental processes. Aim of the study is to study the features of cognitive processes in indigenous populations of Siberia (Yakuts, Evens, Evenks, Altai, Agin Buryats and Tuvans), in comparison with the Eastern Slays. The object of the study and research methods. The children of 9-10 years of age, the students of secondary schools living in rural areas, in the national subjects of the Russian Federation, a total number of 779 people were examined. Among them there are 180 Yakuts, 49 Evens and Evenks, 135 Altai, 154 Agin and Buryats, 98 Tuvinians, 163 Slays from the East. The mean age was 9.8 y.o. The study used non-verbal methods: 1) Classification of pictures from the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT); 2) subtests: The concept of sequential order, the Concept of horizontality and the Concept of verticality from the battery of pictures of tests by R. Silver; 3) test The picture of a Man in the interpretation of A.L. Wenger; 4) methods: Reproduction of digital series, Battery coding of non-verbal subtests by D. Wechsler (WAIS, subtests V and VII). Statistical processing was per- formed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 22. Results. The formation of intellectual functions in representatives of different populations occurs in accordance with the general laws of ontogenetic development. The interpopulation differences that were identified relate to visual skills, memory indicators, the formation of ideas about the coordinate system and speed in processing information. In Yakuts, Evens, and Evenks, visual memory is better developed (p<0.001), compared to auditory memory. Tuvinians have better developed auditory and verbal memory, spatial thinking and the concept of vertical (p<0.001). The Buryats have better developed spatial thinking and horizontal understanding (p=0.03). Altai people have lower indicators of auditory-verbal memory (p=0.001). We explain these differences by the specifics of lifestyle and the main activities formed by unique natural landscapes of habitat. The main feature of cognitive processes among indigenous peoples, in comparison with the Eastern Slays, is associated with different speed of information processing. When performing the Coding methodology, the Yakuts processed 22.3 characters; Evenks and Evens - 16.1; Altai - 26.2; Tuvans - 26.4; Agin Buryats - 28.4, which is lower compared to the Eastern Slays (30.6 characters), p<0.001. Conclusion. Representatives of the indigenous populations of Siberia, in comparison with the Eastern Slays, revealed culturally specific features of cognitive functions - a reduced processing speed of information, which we consider as a risk factor for suicidal behavior associated with the characteristics of neurocognitive functioning.