Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, 20 October 2023. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey on family values among Russians; the survey is commissioned by Social Research Expert Institute (EISI).

The October survey findings show that the most important life goals for Russians are “to be healthy” (58%) and “to create a happy family and raise children” (55%). Other important life priorities include having reliable friends (31%), a favorite thing to do (31%) and an interesting job (26%). A quarter of respondents prioritize travelling around the world (25%). Fourteen percent of respondents consider it important to be able to express their own opinion (14%), to have lots of free time and to spend it the way they want (14%), as well as to get quality education (13%).

As to an ideal family, Russians value spiritual life more than material life. Such a family relies on mutual understanding and care for each other (66%), harmony and happiness (28%), as well as love (20%). Only 16% of Russians associate an ideal family with financial wealth and good income.

Love is the key element necessary to build a real family (57%). This is followed by factors that provide for partners’ financial independence: a house to live separately (35%) and a level of income enabling separate living (30%). More than a quarter prioritize having common views on the number of children and child-rearing, distribution of household duties and career plans (28%); every fifth respondent thinks partners should match each other in terms of education and culture (19%).

VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was commissioned by EISI and conducted July 2, October 13, 2023. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18+ took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In РФ. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

Key effectiveness indicators, survey of 2 July, 2023:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.8248; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0174; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1546.  calculations are based on corporate standards: https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/

Key effectiveness indicators, survey of 13 October, 2023:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7809; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0169; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1022.

Each person has his/her life priorities. What life priorities do you have?  Please choose five priorities which are the most important personally to you.  

(close-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents, answers that gained at least 2%)

 

October, 2023

Health

58

To create a happy family, to raise children

55

To have reliable friends

31

To do what you like

31

To have an interesting job

26

To travel around the world

25

To be able to freely express your opinion, position

14

To have more free time and to enjoy it

14

To get quality education

13

To win respect among people around, to be respectable among coworkers

11

To run your own business 

11

To make career

10

To be a rich person

8

To obtain connections, to find useful acquaintances

8

Family well-being, raising children, give them good education (from “other”)

5

To have a good income, stable income, financial well-being (for “other”)

3

Entertainment, pleasure

3

Other

3

Don’t know

2

How do you view an ideal family? Several answers are possible.

(open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents, answers that gained at least 2%)

 

July, 2023

Mutual understanding, mutual respect, caring for each other

66

Happy, friendly family, harmony

28

Where there is love

20

Wealthy families with good income, who are working

16

Nuclear family (mother, father children)

14

With children

14

Common interests, mutual pass-time

4

True to each other

3

No idea / non ideal families

2

Other

10

Don’t know

14

In your opinion, what is essential to build a family? Up to 3 answers are possible

(close-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents)

 

July, 2023

 Love

57

 House to live separately from parents

35

 Level of income enabling to live separately from parents

30

 Common views on the number of children and child-rearing, distribution of household duties, professional plans

28

Partners should match each other in terms of culture and education

19

 Good relationship with partner’s parents and friends

13

Experience of co-living

11

 Mutual understanding, respect, trust (from “other”)

8

 Partners should match by age

6

 Experience of sexual life with your partner 

6

 Common interests (from “other”)

2

 Other (specify)

8

 Don’t know

3

Topics:
Society