Look into the Future: Life Values and Orientations of Modern Youth in Yakutia

Abstract

The article contributes to the discussion about the values and life strategies of modern youth using the example of a study of students in the northern region of Russia. The article presents some results of a sociological survey aimed at studying the life world, social and political orientations of students of three federal universities of Yakutia (NEFU, ASICA, ChSIPhES). Special attention is paid to the peculiarities of the distribution of life values and orientations, factors of success and happiness, as well as the ratio of the respondents' civil and regional identities. The sociological study ‘Students of Russia: Civic Culture and Life Strategies’ was conducted by the Centre of Political Science of SPR FCTAS RAS in April-May 2023. The object of the study is Russian students. The study used a quota-proportional all-Russian sample with interdependent characteristics of the general population: gender, age, place of residence, level of education received and areas of higher education. The sample size is 6389 respondents, with 468 students in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The data analysis revealed the priority of material-economic and socio-emotional life values in the individual matrices of young people. Material prosperity, interesting work, family stability, emotional ties with family members and friends, education, as well as autonomy, independence, individualism are the most significant in the lives of students. The spatial levels of identity and the degree of emotional attachment to local and global territorial communities, as well as the attitude of young people in Yakutia to Russia have been revealed. Student youth optimistically builds an image of the future of Yakutia and Russia, relying on traditional values and family, while being open to the global society, mostly relying on their own experience and competences.