Fatalism, Social Support, and Mental Health in Four Former Soviet Cultures

Abstract

Research on social support has identified differences in levels of support between cultures but has provided only a limited explanation of the role of values or beliefs in accounting for such variations. In this article, the authors examine the relationship between fatalism and perceived support among 2,672 respondents in four former Soviet states (Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, and Belorussia), with participants drawn from groups of manual workers, managers, civil servants, students, and the retired in these four countries. The authors also examine the consequences of such social support for mental health across these nations. Findings indicate a small but significant moderator effect for fatalism on the relationship between social support and mental health. These results are discussed in the context of the continuing economic and social challenges facing the citizens of these nations.