Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Russians are not scared of being old; moreover, they believe that old age gives more opportunities than other life stages.

MOSCOW, September 29, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the International Day of Older Persons.

Old age is a life period which provides plenty of opportunities (62%). This answer is given by more than half of respondents across all age groups regardless of their gender, age and financial income. The benefits of being old are communicating with relatives, having more free time, opportunity to do what you want and having rich life experience. Thirty-three percent of Russians see no advantages of being old; most of them are Petersburgians and Muscovites (41%) as well as respondents with low income (44%).

Almost three-quarters of Russians (73%) are not afraid of being old; this share is high across all social groups. One-quarter of Russians are afraid of old age (25%); they are mainly respondents with the educational level below secondary (38%) and poor financial income (32%) as well as young persons (31% of the 18-24-year-olds). As to fears related to old age, most of respondents mention diseases and poor health (34%), low pensions and lack of money (33%), loneliness (20%), and the fear of death (11%).

Russians are divided in their opinions on when old age begins: 27% point to the period from 60 to 64; 19%, from 55 to 59; 17%, from 50 to 54. Respondents in the oldest age group (60+) say that old age comes at 60 - 64 (25%) or 70 - 74 (19%).

Things that help to stay young are active and healthy lifestyles (26%, for each), interesting job (17%), financial well-being (15%), strong health (13%), the beloved ones (11%), and healthy food (10%). Rare answers are absence of job or life objective, and participation in family life.

Every second respondent considers that those who had an interesting life feel better in old age (54%); 37% believe that those feel better who have savings. One can say that over the recent two decades the views of happy old age have changed dramatically. In 1998 and 2009 respondents said that those who had savings would live better in old age (68% and 53%, respectively); interesting life was only mentioned by 32% and 39, respectively.

The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on September 25-26, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted for the probability of selection and reflect 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.

Some people think that old age, as any other life period, has its advantages. Others believe that this life period has no advantages compared to other ages. What statement is closer to yours?  

(closed-ended, one answer)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Old age is a life period that has as many advantages as any other life period  

62

68

63

70

57

59

Old age is a life period that has no advantages compared to other ages

33

27

31

27

38

35

Don’t know

5

5

6

3

5

6 

What advantages/positive things do you think old age gives people?

(open-ended question, up to three answers, % of those who think that old age has its benefits)

 

Total respondents

Communicating with relatives, children, grandchildren

36

More free time

19

Opportunities for hobbies

17

Well-deserved rest 

14

Rich life experience

13

Enjoying life

12

Travel opportunities

10

No need to go to work

8

Pension payments

7

Respect, attention of people around

3

Rethinking life,  assessment of life achievements  

3

Acquired property, savings

2

Benefits

1

Other

2

Don’t know

20 

Old age is defined differently in different epochs and different countries. In your opinion, at what age does the old age begin in Russia? (closed-ended, one answer)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Up to 40

0

0

1

1

0

0

40-49

4

7

4

7

3

2

50-54

17

22

31

16

17

6

55-59

19

15

25

20

17

15

60-64

27

34

20

36

27

25

65-69

8

11

7

6

9

9

70-74

11

5

6

9

11

19

75-79

3

1

0

1

4

6

80 and over

4

6

2

3

4

7

Don’t know

6

0

3

3

8

11 

In your opinion, what helps people to stay young for longer?

(open-ended question, up to three answers)

 

Total respondents

Man

Women

Active lifestyle

26

30

23

Healthy lifestyle

26

27

25

Favorite, interesting job

17

18

16

Money, financial well-being

15

13

17

Strong health, good genetic background

13

9

15

The beloved ones, love

11

11

11

Healthy food

10

10

9

Enjoying life

9

7

11

High-quality and available medical assistance

7

6

8

Absence of situations which have negative impacts on  the nervous system

5

7

4

A good rest

5

6

4

Environment, ecology

5

5

5

Absence of bad habits

4

6

3

State of mind

4

4

4

Hobby

4

2

5

Being in demand

3

3

4

Stability, confidence in the future

3

4

3

Desire to live

2

2

3

Children

2

2

3

Social status

2

2

2

Social protection, state care

2

2

2

Communicating with people

2

1

2

Communicating with young people

1

1

2

Education, studies, getting new knowledge

1

1

1

Character, upbringing

1

1

1

Self-care, self-love

1

0

2

Work conditions, absence of hard work

1

2

1

Kindness

1

0

2

Participation in public life

1

0

1

Grandchildren

1

0

1

Life target

1

1

0

No work

0

0

0

Faith 

0

1

0

Other

3

2

3

Don’t know

8

7

9 

Some people are afraid of old age; others are not. Are you personally afraid of getting old?  

(closed-ended, one answer)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Definitely yes

7

2

6

9

6

10

Rather yes

18

29

19

18

17

14

Rather not

35

46

40

33

35

29

Definitely not

38

20

33

38

41

44

Don’t know

2

2

2

2

2

4 

Can you tell us why you are afraid of old age?

 (open-ended question, up to three answers, % of those who are afraid of old age)

 

Total respondents

Diseases, poor health

34

Small pensions, lack of money, poverty

33

Loneliness

20

Fear of death

11

Laxity , helplessness

8

No assistance from the government

8

Afraid of looking less attractive, not young  

6

Unstable situation in the country; no confidence in the future

5

Low-quality health services

4

Afraid of  being a burden to someone

3

Failure to find a job

2

Scared of pension reforms

2

Afraid of not being able to live into old age

2

Afraid of being not able to do what was planned  

1

Other

5

Don’t know

8 

Which of the following conditions is needed to feel better in old age?

 (closed-ended, one answer)

 

1998 *

2009

2017

If you had an interesting life  

32

39

54

If you has enough savings

68

53

37

Don’t know

 

8

8

* In 1998, the answer option “Don’t know” was not proposed.   

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