According to the “Sputnik” daily omnibus survey, Russians still consider the law banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens to be necessary. At the same time, if American citizens could provide secure living and health conditions to the adopted children, many respondents would support the abolition of the Dima Yakovlev law.
MOSCOW, February 6, 2017. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing the Russian attitudes towards the adoption of children and the Dima Yakovlev law.
The public approval rating of the Dima Yakovlev law (which came into force on January 1, 2013) is high: 71% according to the 2017 survey data (70-76% in 2015). At the same time, the share of those who oppose the law has reached its all-time high (25% of all respondents; 37% of those who would like to adopt a child; 50% of those who already adopted a child). Since the adoption of the law, public opinion has become more pronounced: the share of those who were undecided has decreased from 25% in 2013 to 4% in 2017.
Even if health and living conditions for the adopted children are guaranteed by the U.S. and other countries, 54% of Russians strongly oppose the abolition of the law that was adopted four years ago. They are opposed by 41% of respondents (62% of residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg and young respondents aged 18 – 24; 60% of non-parliamentary parties’ supporters; 57% of those who would like to adopt a child).
As to the child adoption by Russians, the share of those who admit the possibility to adopt a child is 30% (21% in 2015). Two percent of respondents say that they have already become adoptive parents. The percentage of those who are not going to adopt children is 64%, a minimum since 2005.
The number of respondents who have adopted children over the recent year and a half has considerably increased (26% in October 2015; 35% in January 2017, which is an all-time high). Half of respondents (53%) are confident that they are not familiar with anyone who adopted a child.
The VCIOM survey was conducted on January 28-29, 2017, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 1200 respondents. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The household surveys were carried out in 2005-2015.
Would you (members of your family) like to adopt a child, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| 2005 | 2010 | 2013 | 2014 | January 2015 | October 2015 | 2017 |
We have adopted a child (children) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Yes, I (we) would like to adopt a child (children) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
We don’t exclude this possibility; we will think about it in a while | 6 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 21 |
Yes but we have a controversy on this issue in our family | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
No, we are not going to do that | 82 | 84 | 78 | 85 | 79 | 75 | 64 |
Don’t know | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Are there anyone among your friends and relatives who adopted children? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| 2005 | 2013 | 2014 | January 2015 | October 2015 | 2017 |
Yes | 21 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 26 | 35 |
No | 72 | 71 | 63 | 67 | 67 | 53 |
I know nothing about that; maybe | 7 | 5 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 12 |
Don’t know/refusal to answer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Four years ago a law banning citizens of foreign countries including the USA to adopt Russian children came into force in Russia. Do you personally approve or disapprove of the adoption of this law? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||
| 2013 | 2014 | January 2015 | October 2015 | 2017 |
I rather approve of it | 54 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 71 |
I rather disapprove of it | 21 | 20 | 14 | 19 | 25 |
Don’t know | 25 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 4 |
Some people say that this law can be cancelled, if the U.S. and other countries ensure secure healthy and living conditions for the Russian children. Others say that in any case the law cannot be cancelled. Which of these viewpoints do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over | Total respondents |
This law can be cancelled if the U.S. and other countries ensure secure healthy and living conditions for the Russian children they adopt | 62 | 47 | 40 | 38 | 34 | 41 |
This law cannot be cancelled even if the U.S. and other countries ensure secure healthy and living conditions for the Russian children they adopt | 38 | 51 | 56 | 57 | 56 | 54 |
Don’t know | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!