MOSCOW, December 29, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing how Russians helped each other during the pandemic year, and how it shaped their sense of solidarity and social cohesion.
Forty percent of Russians say that in today’s Russia people know what solidarity and common interests are (they are mainly Russians aged 25-34 (48%)). Forty-two percent of Russians cite that Russians have become more united and supportive: mainly young Russians aged 25-34 (49%) and those aged 60 + (45%).
Cohesion has strengthened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown (56%). Eleven percent of respondents believe that challenges bring people closer; a further 6% say that people have understood how important it is to rely on each other.
More than half of Russians report to increasingly take up volunteering (59%). Those are predominantly young respondents aged 18-24 and Russians aged 60+ (64%, each group). Every third Russian has someone in his/her circle who volunteers (34%, mainly the 18-24-year-olds — 56%). The mean value of acquaintances per person is 8 persons; the median (most frequently cited number) is 3 persons.
The major reasons why people start volunteering (based on the list of reasons to choose from) include: (1) people want to feel they are useful (45%); (2) they grab an opportunity to solve common problems (31%); (3) they try to fulfil their potential and implement their own initiatives (17%).
Seventy-one percent of Russians have done something useful or helped others this year. What they did was helping people with clothes (35%), money (32%), activities (25%) or foods (20%). Russians tried to help people they do not know for a number of reasons: because those people needed help (16%), because of a feeling of compassion (13%), or because they just had an opportunity to help others (10%).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on December 25, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. 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 2.5%. 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.
In your opinion, is there a place for solidarity, common interests and mutual understanding in today’s Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Rather yes | 40 | 44 | 48 | 31 | 41 | 39 |
Rather no | 55 | 53 | 50 | 63 | 53 | 54 |
Don’t know | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Would you say that this year people in Russia have become more united, more supportive? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Definitely more united | 8 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
Rather yes | 34 | 26 | 40 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
Rather no | 33 | 39 | 32 | 36 | 35 | 29 |
Definitely no | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 |
Don’t know | 9 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 12 |
In your opinion, what is the reason why this year people have become more united and supportive? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who say that people have become more united and supportive this year; shown are answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total |
Due to coronavirus / pandemic / lockdown | 56 |
Troubles / challenges / difficult times unite people | 11 |
People have understood how important it is to rely on each other / more solidarity / more attentive | 6 |
Fall in living standards / people’s impoverishment | 4 |
Discontent with the authorities is what unites people | 3 |
Foreign policy have had an impact / Western countries finding faults | 3 |
Mutual help | 3 |
Economic situation / crisis / price increase | 2 |
Domestic policies / difficult situation domestically / lawlessness | 2 |
Other | 13 |
Don’t know | 14 |
In your opinion, do people volunteer now more intensely or less intensely than a year ago? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
More intensely | 59 | 64 | 57 | 53 | 59 | 64 |
Less intensely | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
The same amount | 22 | 29 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 15 |
Don’t know | 14 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 17 |
Is there anyone among people you know who volunteers? If so, how many of them? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Yes | 34 | 56 | 39 | 39 | 31 | 21 |
No | 62 | 36 | 58 | 57 | 63 | 74 |
Don’t know | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
Is there anyone among people you know who volunteers? If so, how many of them? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| Median | Mean |
Number of people | 3 | 8 |
In your opinion, why do people start volunteering? Several answers are possible (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total |
Desire to feel they are useful | 45 |
Opportunity to solve common problems, problems of other people | 31 |
Desire for self-fulfillment, to implement your own initiatives | 17 |
Desire to live an interesting and active life | 15 |
Desire to find friends | 13 |
Desire to fulfill your beliefs, values | 13 |
Networking opportunities, social connections | 11 |
Desire to get professional experience | 11 |
Desire to get extra skills | 10 |
Desire to get benefits, incentives (invitation for an event, trip, etc.) | 8 |
Don’t know | 7 |
Over the past year have you happened to do any activity from the list below free-of-charge for people you do not know? If so, what exactly? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total |
Helping with clothes, stuff | 35 |
Donating money | 32 |
Helping with activities | 25 |
Helping with foods | 20 |
Being a blood donor | 4 |
Nothing | 29 |
Special | 7 |
Don’t know | 0 |
Why did you choose to help people that way this year? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who have helped others this year; shown are answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Total |
If someone is in a difficult situation / needs help / people who have more troubles / they need assistance | 16 |
Pity for them / compassion / mercy / personal involvement / sympathy | 13 |
I had an opportunity to help / if I have an opportunity I help | 10 |
I always help / always try to help others | 9 |
We must help each other / duty / we need to help each other / this is right | 6 |
I have things I do not need / I have some unnecessary stuff | 6 |
Why not help / for no reason / it just happened | 5 |
Desire to help / willingness to help | 4 |
To be useful / to do something good / a need to help others | 3 |
I was asked for help | 3 |
I have no one to help but me | 2 |
Moral beliefs / views / this is the way I am | 2 |
I am kind / I do good things | 2 |
I can be in their place / this can happen to me too | 2 |
Coronavirus / pandemic / people experience hardships due to pandemic | 2 |
The economically disadvantaged / low living standards / people live in poverty | 2 |
People now live worse than before / poor situation in the country | 2 |
Commandment / religious beliefs | 2 |
Other | 17 |
Don’t know | 7 |
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.