The influence of experience of participation in public associations on the subjective well-being of adolescents

Abstract

The development of the children's and youth movement in Russia has recently received a new impetus, and state support for their activities has intensified. This ensured an increase in the number of schoolchildren involved in the activities of public associations. However, the question of their impact on the lives of adolescents remains open. The purpose of the study is to identify the interrelation between participation in formal children's public associations (public-state movement) and the subjective well-being of schoolchildren. An online survey was conducted in 2022 and 2023 among schoolchildren of the Chelyabinsk region, covering 6865 adolescents. The interviewees included: 59% are girls, 41% are boys; 55 residents of cities, 45% residents of other settlements. Students' assessment of subjective well-being encompassed the following issues: how happy they are, if they are satisfied with their self-realization and if they have a goal in life. The results of the study showed that 37.6% of schoolchildren have no experience of participating in the activities of children's social associations. Girls are more likely than boys to participate in such associations as Russian movement of schoolchildren (2022) and Big Change (2023). Boys are more inclined to join the Unarmia and search teams. In rural areas, the proportion of children participating in public associations is higher than in urban areas. Schoolchildren who take part in public associations are happier, more purposeful and satisfied with self-realization than their peers who do not have such experience.