The self-preserving behavior of Russian population: dispositions and risks

Abstract

The article elaborates on research tasks determining the vector trends and key risks of actual models of self-preserving behavior of population in Russia on scale of national security level and searching the means of increasing effectiveness of regional demographic policy in area of developing effective self-preserving choices of life-style strategies. The results of sociological survey of the aspects of self-preserving behavior of residents of the central regions of the Russian Federation (the study was carried out on a quota sample, n = 1060) are analyzed. The study made it possible to answer the questions about the importance of health and to assess it identifying the groups of relative and absolute risk. The study provided following results: the importance factors affecting development of self-preserving behavioral patterns and choice trajectories among respondents, as well as motivation for health protection and for refusal to live longer. The most important factors turned out to be personal resources and family upbringing. The most powerful motivation was the desire for well-being, participation in children's lives and self-fulfillment. The results of the study made it possible to identify self-preserving perimeter of residents of the central part of Russia. Though being aware of and understanding the importance and priority of health, almost half of the respondents waive their responsibility for their own well-being and life expectancy and at the same time displaying a clear distrust of medical institutions. Such a position of non-resource situation foregrounds all the possible risks associated with both loss of health and the failure to maintain it at satisfactory level. The results of study confirm the research hypothesis that the groups of relative and absolute risk correlate with the groups choosing external locus of control over their health. The obtained data is the basis for empirical verification of the indices of self-preserving strategies and the starting point for forecast calculations of possible risks of national demographic policy.