Family and Family Values in New Realities: Views of Young Families of the Khabarovsk Territory

Abstract

The article presents the analysis of the results of the sociological study of young families in the Khabarovsk Territory from the point of view of their values and ideological attitudes. It was important for us to understand what family values and value orientations dominate in the minds and behavior of modern young families. To what extent are the family and the birth of children valued by young families? What terminal and instrumental values are young families guided by in their everyday life? What problems do young families face and how do they overcome them? The analysis of these issues allowed us to identify the specifics of the attitude of young families to them. In modern conditions, we can see the transformation of family values associated with both modern civilizational trends (sociocultural ideas, priority of material values, egocentrism in the attitudes of young people) as well as with the imbalance of continuity of family relations in intergenerational development (young families are less likely to be like their parents' families). Despite the above-mentioned trends, such values as family and happy family life are significant for the vast majority of young people. The preferences of young families are focused on having children, love and comfortable family relationships that are of great importance to them. However, young families associate the birth of children, especially the second and subsequent ones, with the solution of two main problems: financial and housing. At the same time, young people justify the postponement of the birth of their first child by the desire to live for themselves, develop in the profession, and build a career. The identified potential for conflict in young families, associated largely with domestic and financial problems, disagreements about raising children and lack of mutual understanding between spouses, actualizes the need to develop advisory assistance and support, including psychological one.