State of mind as a component of youth’s social well-being

Abstract

The study of social well-being has become increasingly important in the modern Russian society, as people seek answers to questions about the unity of values and stable development of social system. One aspect of social well-being is a state of mind, which reflects the formation of meaning-of-life orientations. In the scientific literature, multiple methodologies have been employed in the examination of the categories of “social well-being” and “state of mind”, as well as their interconnection. The interdisciplinary study of these phenomena has been fragmented due to the lack of a unified concept, social, economic, and political challenges. However, the thesis on the position of state of minds in the structure of social well-being and their relation to individual social objects such as personality, group, and community is a promising area of research. The article presents the results of an empirical study conducted through a questionnaire survey among young people in Moscow and Moscow region. According to the findings of the research, respondents reported the lowest levels of state of mind during their adolescence and youth. However, they reported higher levels of state of mind during childhood and when contemplating their future (adulthood and old age). Women tend to assess their state of mind more positively than men. Older age groups are more optimistic about their future. The study also found a connection between the financial situation of respondents’ families and their state of mind at different stages of life. The article concludes that young people assess their state of mind higher when they achieve independence. These results can be useful for specialists dealing with problems of juvenology, representatives of authorities, public organizations, and young people themselves.