Атрибуция ответственности за психологическое благополучие престарелых людей в представлениях студенческой молодежи и работающих взрослых

Abstract

The paper describes the study of social representations (SR) of psychological well-being of aged people in Russia. The authors also investigate the attributions of responsibility for the psychological well-being of this category of citizens. The sample included 112 people — 56 students (35 female, 21 male) 18 to 23 years old (median age — 20). Another 56 respondents (34 female, 22 male) belong to the group of working adults aged 24 to 40 (median age — 32). During the main stage of the study, we determined the content of social representations with the help of purpose-made questionnaires “Psychological well-being of aged people” and “Attribution of responsibility”, which were based on the results of preliminary research as well as on the qualitative methods of “Bubbles” and “Psychological picture of the aged”. To describe the socio-psychological characteristics of our respondents, we used the “Psychological well-being scales”, the questionnaire on “Readiness for age-related changes”, the method of social identity determination, as well as E. B. Fantalova’s method of value orientations. The study proved that the empirically outlined five types of respondents with different SR also have differing SR content and socio-psychological characteristics. The first type of respondents expresses SR with the thesis “Well-being implies positive social contacts” and attributes responsibility for the welfare of the aged people to their families, relatives and friends. The respondents of this type have strong identity with their family. The second type of respondents believes that “well-being of aged people stands for their social security”. These respondents identify themselves with their families. Their prevailing values are “happy family life”, “good and true friends” and “knowledge”. The third type (“Well-being is a peace of mind”) associates itself with friends and people of the same occupation. Their main values are “interesting work” and “knowledge”. Respondents of the fourth type (“Well-being means wisdom”) identify themselves with colleagues and like-minded people to a greater extent than with their family. Their dominating values are “interesting work”, “health” and “freedom as independence in behavior and actions”. The fifth type (“Well-being is confidence in your loved ones and their support”) identifies itself primarily with people of the same age. This type of respondents considers “active life” and “health” their main values. These outcomes were interpreted via the mechanism of projecting one’s own desires and hopes of the young respondents, who shape a particular image of old age due to their qualities and specific features. At the same time, our previous studies have shown that their representations of the aged’s real life are predominantly negative.