THE PECULIARITIES AND TENDENCIES OF ADAPTING RUSSIANS TO THE EVER-CHANGING CONDITIONS OF THE POST-SOVIET PERIOD

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Abstract

This paper presents the main tendencies of how Russians are adapting to the rapidly changing social conditions of the post- Soviet period. The analyses is based on the data from the «Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey — Higher School of Economics» (RLMS-HSE) — a long-term longitudinal study of households. Examined are the problems and peculiarities of Russia’s population adapting to the drastic changes occurring during various stages of the transformational period. Two types of criteria were used to determine their degree of adaptation: objective, or behavioral, which define how thoroughly new behavior standards have been absorbed, and are based on whether certain individuals implement the currently dominating norms and life-rules in their own behavior; subjective criteria, which reflect the inner state of those adapting (their “social well-being”). The focus was analyzing the specific problems of socio-economic adaptation. This analysis convinces us that the vast majority of Russians to one extent or another have adapted to their new living conditions, they have learned how to handle those difficult situations, which tend to arise during periods of crisis. This is confirmed by the growth and optimization of the population’s income/expense balance, an increase in families’ consumer resources, as well as a broader range of people who implement active strategies and adaptation methods. Certain positive changes have been observed, such as citizens becoming healthier in general, with a healthy lifestyle and self-preservation behavior becoming more prominent, especially among youths. Those indicators that characterize Russians’ social well-being have grown considerably (life satisfaction in general, satisfaction with labor and its various aspects, assessment of personal and family life-prospects, a feeling of happiness and trust towards others etc.). Significant changes have occurred when it comes to people’s realization of their goals and interests. However, the population is significantly differentiated in terms of separate people’s degree of adaptation to ever changing social conditions, and many families are having an incredibly hard time dealing with the new challenges of a society in crisis. Problems that seriously hamper adaptation processes include drastic inequality in the population’s level of income and expenditure, an inhibited development pace for intelligent market consciousness, many families utilizing thrift-based and therefore unproductive adaptation methods, as well as a lack of financial competence and entrepreneurial activities.