Suicidological characteristics of young males and females practicing unprotected sexual contacts with unfamiliar partners

Currently, the connection between having sexual intercourse without the use of barrier contraception and the risk of developing sexually transmitted infections is undoubtedly known to most young people. Despite this, there are still people who are willing to take such a risk ignoring all possible consequences. In this regard, it was hypothesized that such a variant of sexual behavior may be associated with other risky-victim forms of behavior, as well as other areas of realization of auto-aggressive impulses. Aim of the study: to assess the relationship between the presence of repeated unprotected sex with unfamiliar (not well familiar) partners with suicidological characteristics of young people of both sexes. Materials and methods: 102 young females and 66 young males aged from 18 to 23 were examined. The criterion for inclusion in the study group is the presence of repeated unprotected sex with unfamiliar partners during the last year; the candidates in the control group have protected sex only. The presence of a permanent sexual partner with whom there were regular sexual contacts without the use of barrier means of protection was not considered both in the study and control groups. The exclusion criterion was young people who had not been sexually active in the last year, as well as those who had a single unprotected sexual contact with a new partner (who subsequently became or did not become permanent). The repeated unprotected sex with different non-regular partners during the last year was revealed in 33.3% of observations (n=34) of females and in 37.8% (n=25) of males. The control group consisted of 68 females and 41 males. A questionnaire was used as a diagnostic tool to identify auto-aggressive patterns and their predictors in the past and present. Mathematical data processing was carried out using SPSS-Statistics programs. Res ul ts : young males who had unprotected sex were significantly more likely to have suicidal thoughts (24%) and suicidal attempts (12%). It was interesting to note that in a similar series of comparisons between the study and control groups of young females, there were found no statistically significant differences in relation to suicidal phenomena. In the adolescent group, there were also numerous predictors of autoaggressive behavior (mainly of emotional nature) that significantly distinguished them from the control group. The number of those who tried out drugs and abused alcohol in the group of unprotected sex (both for boys and girls) significantly exceed those in the control groups. Conclusions: young men with a history of repeated unprotected sex with unfamiliar partners are of undoubted interest for suicidal practice. In some cases, presumably, the considered sexual activity can act as an equivalent of non-suicidal autoaggressive behavior. In our opinion, repeated unprotected sex with unfamiliar partners in young men should be considered as a possible and very specific predictor of auto-aggressive behavior. Probably, it would be logical to have a screening assessment of suicidal risk in young men who seek treatment with venereologists. No similar patterns were found in a similar group of girls. The psychological and personality mechanisms underlying their similar sexual behavior need further clarification.