VALUE ORIENTATIONS INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF RUSSIAN AND FOREIGN STUDENTS TOWARDS LARGE FAMILIES

Abstract

Introduction. The global decline in fertility coexists with macro-level demographic efforts (South Korea, Russia, China, Singapore, etc.). Student youth is of particular interest, that is a group where values are actively being formed. The aim is to identify and establish the interrelationships between institutional factors of the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels that determine value orientations toward large families among student youth.

Materials and methods. The theoretical framework is based on the concept of the second demographic transition, institutional theory, the social capital model, the theory of rational choice, and historical institutionalism. The empirical basis is a questionnaire survey of attitudes at three institutional levels among 1,188 students from St. Petersburg: Russian students (n=556), student gamers (n=521), and international students from developing countries – Yemen, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Malaysia (n=111). Statistical processing included correlation analysis (Spearman), Fisher's z-transformation, and ANOVA in JAMOVI v. 2.7.

Results and conclusions. Among Russian students, micro-level factors («Friendship», «Labor», «Compassion») are not significantly associated with the direct orientation towards a large family («Family»); the strongest positive correlation is with the macro-factor «Country», indicating direct transmission of macro-narratives bypassing the meso-level. For international students, meso-level factors («Multigenerationality», «Self-sacrifice») hinder the formation of large-family orientations, with the micro-factor «Friendship» serving as a supporting resource. For student gamers, conversely, meso-level factors («Community Support», «Religious Community», «Selflessness») are significantly positively correlated with «Family». High-variance zones (factors sensitive to external influences) yave been identified: for Russian students – «Homeland», «Selflessness», «Religious Community», «Family»; for gamers – «Country», «Nation», «Selflessness», «Family»; for international students – «Homeland», «Culture», «History», «Selflessness», «Family», which determines potential targets for youth policy.

Discussion. The choice «country or large family» acts as an emotional trigger. The value of self-sacrifice performs a compensatory function, compensating for the lack of social capital. For international students, negative correlations with meso-factors reflect cultural conflict. Even minimal community associations can shape value orientations towards large families. Targeted policy should work with high-variance zones and overcome two key institutional barriers expressed as negative correlations: «Family» – «Multigenerationality» (conflict between nuclear and extended family) and «Culture» – «Community Support» (gap between cultural values and actual support).