Health is the main factor that affects the quality of life of Russians. Food and environmental conditions also influence well-being. Three-quarters of Russians would like to buy food produced in Russia; at the same time, every second Russian thinks that the market is lacking these products.
MOSCOW, June 4, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) and Bayer Company present the results of the second annual survey concerning the opinions of Russians on factors affecting their life.
The main thing that defines the quality of life is health: Russians give 4.78 (out of 5) scores. This factor is important both for the all-Russian opinion poll and the Moscow poll respondents (95% and 91%, respectively). Russians also pay attention to safety (4.73), stable income (4.68), quality and affordability of products (4.68), comfortable living conditions (4.66) and environment (4.61).
The main factors that influence health status are quality of food (44%) and ecological conditions (43%). These factors are of greater importance for the residents of Moscow (78% and 79%, respectively). Many Muscovites think that state of health is dependent on affordability of certain medicines (64%) and qualified medical aid (65%). About half of Russians (46%) believe that new innovative medicines will have impact on the quality of life; this share is bigger among metropolitan residents (61%).
Three-quarters of Russians (73%) prefer Russian agricultural products to the imported ones; they are mainly elderly respondents (79% of those aged over 60), rather than young Russians (60% of 18-24-year-olds); the share of the metropolitan residents is equal to 69%. At the same time, half of Russians (53%), especially metropolitan residents (66%), complain about the lack of domestic products in the stores.
According to respondents, increased funding such as government subsidies (40%) and extra investments (40%) would make the Russian agricultural sector more productive. One-third of Russians would attract high-quality personnel (34%); one-quarter propose to use natural resources more efficiently (26%) and to control agricultural prices (25%).
Professional career is a very important factor for Russians. Both Russians in general and residents of Moscow in particular say that successful career is characterised by stability and confidence in the future (40% and 39%, respectively). Remarkably, high salary is not so important for Russians (19% and 11%); as to Muscovites, they prize personal and professional development (14%).
The survey was commissioned by the International Bayer concern and comprised two stages: 1) VCIOM Russian opinion survey, conducted on April 11-12, 2015 (1600 respondents interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions of Russia; the margin of error does not exceed 3.5%); 2) the VCIOM opinion poll conducted in Moscow on April 10-15, 2015; (400 respondents; the margin of error does not exceed 4.9%).
All-Russian opinion poll, 1600 people
In your opinion, what are the most important factors that influence your health? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Quality of food | 44 |
Environment | 43 |
Age | 30 |
Affordability of high-quality medical aid | 21 |
Emotional state, stress | 21 |
Bad habits (smoking, alcohol addiction, overeating, etc.) | 20 |
Disease prevention | 16 |
Climate | 9 |
Quality of medicines | 9 |
Lack of physical exercises, sport | 9 |
Excessive weight | 4 |
Taking vitamins regularly | 3 |
Other | 1 |
Don`t know | 2 |
In your opinion, will the emergence of more productive modern medicine affect your life in the future? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 04.2014 | 04.2015 |
Rather yes | 48 | 46 |
Rather no | 39 | 43 |
Don`t know | 13 | 11 |
In your opinion, are there enough Russian products in the market today? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Low income | Income below average | Average income | Income above average | High income | |
There are too many Russian products | 4 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |
The amount of Russian products is sufficient | 39 | 46 | 40 | 40 | 36 | 34 | |
The amount of Russian products is not sufficient | 53 | 45 | 48 | 55 | 56 | 58 | |
Don`t know | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
In your opinion, what measures would foster the agricultural productivity in Russia? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Investments | 40 |
Increase of government subsidies | 40 |
New highly qualified workers | 34 |
More efficient use of natural resources | 26 |
Control over the prices of agricultural products | 25 |
Agricultural intensification: introducing innovative plant protection and new technologies | 22 |
Sharing experience; education programs for farmers and agronomists | 16 |
Improving legislation in the sector | 11 |
Other | 3 |
Don`t know | 6 |
What defines successful professional career? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Stability and confidence in the future | 40 |
High salary | 19 |
Opportunities for personal and professional development | 9 |
Job satisfaction | 7 |
Building career | 5 |
Professional self-realization | 5 |
Recognition from colleagues, respect from others | 4 |
Improvement of social status | 3 |
Internships | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Don`t know | 5 |
Moscow opinion poll, 400 people
In your opinion, what are the most important factors that influence your health? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Quality of food | 78 |
Environment | 79 |
Affordability of high-quality medical aid; opportunity to go through periodic medical examinations | 65 |
Affordable high-quality medicines | 64 |
Disease prevention | 53 |
Ageing | 57 |
Climate | 40 |
Bad habits (smoking, alcohol addiction, overeating, etc.) | 57 |
Lack of physical exercises, sport | 51 |
Excessive weight | 45 |
Emotional state, stress | 68 |
Other | 5 |
Don`t know | 1 |
In your opinion, will the emergence of more productive modern medicine affect your life in the future? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Rather yes | 61 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 64 | 62 |
Rather no | 33 | 48 | 42 | 40 | 25 | 24 |
Don`t know | 6 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 13 |
In your opinion, are there enough Russian products in the market today? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Elementary (incomplete secondary) education | Secondary education (school, vocational school) | Specialized secondary education (technical school) | Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institute), higher education | |
There are too many Russian products | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
The amount of Russian products is sufficient | 32 | 34 | 30 | 36 | 33 | |
The amount of Russian products is not sufficient | 66 | 57 | 67 | 62 | 65 | |
Don`t know | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
In your opinion, what measures would foster the agricultural productivity in Russia? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Investments | 47 |
Increase of government subsidies | 41 |
New highly qualified workers | 33 |
More efficient use of natural resources | 31 |
Control over the prices of agricultural products | 25 |
Agricultural intensification: introducing innovative plant protection and new technologies | 23 |
Sharing experience; education programs for farmers and agronomists | 16 |
Improving legislation in the sector | 13 |
Other | 6 |
Don`t know | 2 |
In your opinion, what defines successful professional career? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Stability and confidence in the future | 39 |
Opportunities for personal and professional development | 14 |
Job satisfaction | 12 |
High salary | 11 |
Professional self-realization | 10 |
Building career | 3 |
Recognition from colleagues, respect from others | 3 |
Internships | 1 |
Improvement of social status | 1 |
Other (what exactly) | 2 |
Don`t know | 4 |
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