Marriage, Family, Students’ Social Attitudes and Representations

Occupation: Leading Expert
Affiliation: Centre for social entrepreneurship and social innovation at the National research university «Higher school of Economics»
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Maria P. Zelenskaya

Affiliation: Peoples` Friendship University of Russia
Address: Moscow, Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya

Edition

Issue 7

Pages

78-89

Abstract

In 2018, social representations of reproductive attitudes and reproductive behavior of students were studied. By means of vignettes method with the inclusion of five factors-values that determine students’ reproductive behavior and life trajectory. The use of the methodology for determining the structure of social representations allowed us to identify four main groups that differ significantly in their views on reproductive behavior, career building. The greatest consensus among undergraduate students (>60%) was stated regarding students who have found a life partner (created a family), begun working, started a career during the studying process. According to 46.5–57.5% of the study participants, the rational development of events is connected to completing education and delaying creating a family and having a baby. Besides, they approve employment after graduation. Acceptable course of events (support 30.4 to 44.4%) – living without any specific strategy during the studying period. Respondents support spontaneous actions depending on circumstances. Undesirable course of events (conflict level consensus-supported by less than a third) mean those students who devalue higher education and who are ready to stop studying for no reason.

There was identified a connection between characteristics of the respondent, reproductive attitudes and ideas about them: students, whose reproductive attitudes, related to creating a family and having a baby, are often ready to support their peers who have decided to have a baby. Representatives of Slavic nationalities, especially – girls, believe that creation of a family while being a student should be postponed. Often abortion is not considered as a deviation and may be approved (two-thirds of boys and girls are ready to support it), if childbirth prevents a student from getting further education, marrying, developing romantic relationships.

Keywords

reproductive attitudes, social representations, students, family, marriage, vignettes

Received

15.07.2019

Publication date

16.07.2019

Number of characters

27611

Cite

GOST	Nazarova I., Zelenskaya M. Marriage, Family, Students’ Social Attitudes and Representations // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2019. – Issue 7 C. 78-89 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250005795-7-1-en (circulation date: 20.04.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250005795-7
MLA	Nazarova, Inna B, Zelenskaya, Maria P "Marriage, Family, Students’ Social Attitudes and Representations." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 7 (2019):78-89. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250005795-7
APA	Nazarova I., Zelenskaya M. (2019). Marriage, Family, Students’ Social Attitudes and Representations. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (7), pp.78-89 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250005795-7

1 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 2, views: 2843

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Alexander C.S., Becker H.J. (1978) The Use of Vignettes in Survey Research. The Public Opinion Quarterly. Vol. 42. 1978. No. 1: 93–104.
2. Analytical report on the selective observation results of the population reproductive plans in 2012 (published 24.01.2013). URL: http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/2012/demo/orp.doc  (accessed 08.02.2019). (In Russ.)
3. Arhangel'skij V.N., Zin'kina Yu.V., Korotaev A.V., Shul'gin S.G. (2017) Current trends in fertility in Russia and the state support measures impact. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No. 3: 43–50. (In Russ.)
4. Bezrukova O.N. (2017) Values of children and parenthood: intergenerational dynamics. Sociologicheskij zhurnal [Sociological journal]. No. 1: 88–110. (In Russ.)
5. Bezrukova O.N. (2014) Models of parenthood and parent potential: intergenerational analysis. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No. 9: 85–97. (In Russ.)
6. Bojko V.V. (1985) Fertility: Socio-Psychological Aspects. Moscow. (In Russ.)
7. Burkina O.V., Prokopenko L.A. (2013) Sovremennye tendencii seksual'nogo povedeniya devushek studencheskogo vozrasta. Uspekhi sovremennogo estestvoznaniya [Success of the modern natural science]. No. 10: 96–98. (In Russ.)
8. Ganong L.H., Coleman M. (2006) Multiple Segment Factorial Vignette Designs. Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 68. No. 2: 455–468.
9. Gurko T.A. (2014) Reproductive plans of spouses. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No. 9: 77–85. (In Russ.)
10. Finch J. (1987) The vignette technique in survey research. Sociology. Vol. 21. No. 1: 105–114.
11. Kalachikova O.N. (2012) Some aspects of reproductive behavior of students. Vysshee obrazovanie v Rossii [Higher education in Russia]. No. 3: 132–136. (In Russ.)
12. Kalachikova O.N., Shabunova A.A. (2013) The possibilities and reserves of the birth rate increase in Russia. Problemy razvitiya territorii [Problems of the area development]. No. 6 (68): 66–72. (In Russ.)
13. Lapin N.I. (2003) How Russian citizens feel and what they aspire to. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No. 6: 78–87. (In Russ.)
14. Leskin D. Yu. (2016) Family as the traditional society basic value. Missiya konfessij [Mission of the denomination]. No. 8 (12): 10–17. (In Russ.)
15. Nazarova I.B., Zelenskaya M.P. (2017a) Study of reproductive attitudes of students: value aspect (review article). Vestnik Rossijskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Sociologiya. [Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: Sociology]. Vol. 17. No. 4: 555–567. (In Russ.)
16. Nazarova I.B., Zelenskaya M.P. (2017b) Study of reproductive attitudes of students (review article). In:  Yearbook edited by V.I. Gerasimov. Ch. 3. Vol. 12. Moscow: INION RAN: 523–525. (In Russ.)
17. Puzanova Zh.V., Tertyshnikova A.G. (2015) The method of vignettes in sociological research: methodological principles and methodological solutions. Vestnik Rossijskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Sociologiya [Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: Sociology]. Vol. 15. No. 4: 44–56. (In Russ.)
18. Pyshkina A.S., Zhabina U.V., Osmanov Eh.M., Vedishchev S.I. (2011) On the question of the modern students reproductive attitudes. Vestnik Tambovskogo universiteta. Seriya: Estestvennye i tekhnicheskie nauki [Bulletin of the Tambov University. Series: Natural and technical sciences]. Vol. 16. № 6–1: 1532–1534. (In Russ.)
19. Pyatunina O.I., Shubina O.A. (2016) Forming traditional family values in the view of modern students. Pedagogika i sovremennost' [Pedagogy and modernity]. No. 1 (21): 71–74. (In Russ.)
20. Rateau P., Moliner P., Guimelli C., Abric J.-C. (2011) Social Representation Theory. In: P. Van Lange, A. Kruglanski T. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology. Vol. 2: 478–498.
21. Sinel'nikov A.B. (2015) Marriage, fatherhood and motherhood in the Russian society. Sociologicheskij zhurnal [Sociological journal]. No. 4: 132–148. (In Russ.)
22. Straits B.C. (1985) Factors Influencing College Women's Responses to Fertility Decision-Making Vignettes. Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 47. No. 3: 585–596.