The Social Activity of Russian Youth: Contextual and Psychological Factors

Despite the existing stereotype about the passivity of Russian youth toward social issues, the realities of modern Russia reveal an opposite trend, which is largely observed within the realm of non-political activity among young people. This study focuses on the social activity of youth, its relationship with social responsibility, and the social context of the country, analyzed through the lens of its perception and attitudes toward it. In terms of perception and attitudes, particular attention is given to examining the role of the perceived «real» and expected «ideal» social contexts, as well as the gap between them in shaping the social activity and responsibility of Russian youth. The study sample included 821 Russians aged 15 to 35 (285 men and 536 women), predominantly from Moscow and Kazan. The research was conducted in 2021 through an online survey. The author’s methodology covered three key areas of social activity: environmental issues, social inequality, and politics. Validated scales were used to assess the perceived and expected social context of the country, as well as the level of social responsibility. The results underscored the importance of the influence of the perceived «real» and expected «ideal» contexts of the country on the level of social activity among youth. Respondents who evaluated the «real» social context of the country as problematic and perceived the state’s approach to issues of environmental protection, social inequality, and politics as insufficient demonstrated higher levels of social activity. At the same time, the expected «ideal» context was not directly related to social activity but influenced it indirectly through social responsibility. Further-more, data analysis revealed that the greater the gap between the perceived «real» and expected «ideal» contexts of the country, the higher the level of social activity among youth.