Future Envisaged by Young Population as Predictor of Demographic Behavior: Interdisciplinary Approach

Abstract

The current demographic situation in Russia leads to its negative population growth, which makes it necessary for sociologists and psychologists to study the demographic behavior of young people, i.e., their attitudes to family, marriage, and children. Such studies could possibly predict further trends in population reproduction, as well as to choose an effective state demographic policy regarding human capital. The authors studied the image of the future as viewed by young people in relation to their demographic behavior. They systematized various interdisciplinary studies to create a theoretical and methodological background for empirical research that would eventually result in an efficient demographic policy for the region. The interdisciplinary approach demonstrated good prospects. Cognitive studies provided a better scientific understanding of the future envisaged by young people. Sociology and psychology yielded empirical indicators to describe the image of the future. The prospective research scheme included objective and subjective factors behind important life decisions as seen by young people, e.g., health, social, and financial status, as well as local infrastructure, institutional resources, values, locus of control, social and individual well-being, etc. In general, a well-designed youth and social policy might be able to change the productive demographic patterns in young population.

Keywords

• young population
• demographic situation
• demographic policy
• demographic behavior
• family and marital behavior
• reproductive behavior
• image of the future
• interdisciplinary approach
• cognitive approach