Author:
V. A. Fedotova, Master of Psychology, Postgraduate, senior lecturer, School of Management,
Faculty of Economics, Management, and Business Informatics,
National Research University Higher School of Economics
38 Studencheskaya st., Perm, 614070, Russian Federation e-mail: vera_goldyreva@mail.ru
Abstract:
Introduction. One of the central notions of the health sociology is “attitude towards health” and it includes a system of values and motivations creating a connection between an individual and society. One’s attitude towards his health is a socio-cultural phenomenon representing a system of personal and selective connections between an individual and various phenomena of the surrounding reality that favour or threaten people’s health, and a certain evaluation given by the individual to his or her own physical and mental state. The article presents the results of a study aimed at studying attitudes towards health among Russians belong-ing to different generations. The respondents were young Russian people aged 18-34 (574 people), 293 people from the “X generation” (born between 1963 and 1984), and 184 people born between 1943 and 1963. Methodology. The methodical instruments included: “Attitudes towards health and a healthy life-style” method [9] and the method of “Your lifestyle” [12].
Results. The attitudes of young people towards health are more positive than those of other genera-tions of Russians. Young respondents are sensitive to various manifestations of their bodies and aesthetic aspects of health, but at the same time do not show proper interest in health problems, but demonstrate so-cial passivity. In the majority of young Russians, when diagnosing a value attitude to health, a dominant low level of intensity was revealed. Older respondents have a better behavioral component of health culture and resistance to social factors that stimulate health and destructive behavior.
Conclusions. Representatives of the baby boomer generation are more interested in the health-related sphere of life. There is a rather interesting phenomenon: the lowest score on the scale of actions, oddly enough in people aged 35 to 55 years. Young Russians and older people (Russians aged 56 to 75 years) have more positive attitudes towards health than members of generation X.
Keywords:
Health, attitudes towards health, health-building activity, health-saving behavior.
