The Impact of Region on the Perception of Psychological Well-Being: Comparative Study in Russian Federation

Abstract

The impact of ethnocultural identity on psychological wellbeing is considered within the framework of psychological functioning and in relation to identity clarity, minority population life quality, and harmonious self-concept formation of immigrants. The aim of the research is clarifying the role of regional specificity in the psychological well-being. The study was conducted in six Federal Districts of Russia: Central, Southern, North Caucasian, Volga, Siberian, and Northwestern (1,322 people). After analysis of objective indicators of wellbeing and social situation in the different regions of Russia the authors have measured the subjective experience of the social situation and psychological well-being by the population, relied on the subjective assessment of social stability, physical health, emotional state, and safety degree in various life spheres. The results showed that Russians feel quite protected, and the level of their subjective safety is quite high. However, there can be some differences between objective indicators of well-being of the region and the subjective experience by the population. Mental well-being as a personal feeling is ethnoculturally mediated perception of the social situation and need to be measured not only with objective well-being values on a scale of a country, but in relation on the subjective experience of the population.

Keywords

• russian federation
• ethnocultural identity
• psychological well-being