Social disruption as a factor of conflict among young people (based on the materials of an interdisciplinary study in Barnaul, Russia)

Akhmedova Angelina Rustamovna Assistant, Department of General Sociology and Conflictology, Altai State University 656049, Russia, Altai Territory, Barnaul, Dimitrova str., 66, room 520 axmedovaangelina@mail.ru Other publications by this author     Zheldakova Arina Vladimirovna Student, Department of Sociology and Conflictology, Altai State University 656049, Russia, Altai region, Barnaul, Dimitrova str., 66, room 520 arina.zheldakova@gmail.com Other publications by this author     Maslov Vladislav Sergeevich Graduate student; Institute of Humanities; Altai State University 656011, Russia, Altai Territory, Barnaul, Dimitrova str., 66, room 520 agutsyarutsrfao@mail.ru Kolegaeva Elizaveta Aleksandrovna Student; Department of Sociology and Conflictology; Altai State University 66 Dimitrova str., Barnaul, Altai Territory, 656011, Russia kolegaeva2020@mail.ru Other publications by this author     Perin Sergei Aleksandrovich Graduate student; Institute of Humanities ; Altai State University 656011, Russia, Altai Territory, Barnaul, Dimitrova str., 66, room 520 Ssaynirov@mail.ru

Klimova Anastasiya Alekseevna Student; Institute of Humanities ; Altai State University 656011, Russia, Altai Territory, Barnaul, Dimitrova str., 66, room 520 nastysha.klimova.2000@list.ru

Introduction

Transformations and reforms in all areas of Russian society have led to the fact that social consequences are manifested, including an increase in the number of conflict situations. In the context of the constant development of society and changes in public institutions, the understanding of conflict becomes especially relevant. The level of social well-being affects people's worldview and their activity in social, economic and political processes related to both personal, family and public life.

The social crisis has caused increased interest in the problems of social well-being or disadvantage, both for an individual and for society as a whole. The perception of well-being significantly influences vital decision-making, especially among young people. Conflict situations often arise in youth communications, which emphasizes the need to identify and effectively resolve them. Research aimed at studying the factors of social well-being and finding mechanisms for solving social contradictions are becoming especially important for reducing the level of disadvantage.

Scientific elaboration of the problem

Until now, social disadvantage, as a factor of conflict, has not become an independent object of scientific research, although some of its aspects have been highlighted by the authors, representatives of various branches of social knowledge. Therefore, to begin with, it is worth considering the phenomenon of conflict among young people. Interpersonal conflicts are an integral part of our lives and arise in various spheres, including family and professional relationships. To understand conflict among young people, it is important to define what conflict is. According to the approaches of R. Dahrendorff, L. Kozer and other scientists, conflict is a disagreement and incompatibility of goals, interests and norms of behavior.

S.B. Davletchina describes the conflict as a clash of opposing views, which can lead to serious consequences and internal discomfort or difficulties in establishing normal relationships. ^[1] A.Ya. Antsupov and A.I. Shipilov consider conflict as a destructive way to resolve significant contradictions in social interaction, while emphasizing that conflicts can also be resolved through cooperation and compromise.^[2]

According to A.G. Zdravomyslov, social conflict is an important part of human interaction and is caused by opposing values and interests. ^[3] M. Weber emphasizes the role of bureaucracy in the emergence of social conflicts, and K. Marx connects conflicts with economic factors and the struggle for resources. ^[4] G. Simmel considers conflict as a universal phenomenon contributing to social progress. ^[4] L. Kozer, in turn, focuses on its positive impact on social development. ^[5]

Today's youth, being part of the global community, face global challenges and social crises, which makes them more vulnerable to conflicts. ^[6] Young people often participate in protests and acts of civil disobedience, which indicates a high level of social tension. Conflicts among young people arise because of individual interests, values and opinions, which leads to disagreements both between individuals and between groups.

The study of conflict among young people is important for developing conflict resolution skills and improving interpersonal relationships. Understanding the causes of conflicts, including social disadvantage, will help identify current problems of young people and suggest ways to solve them. So, conflict among young people can be defined as the presence of disagreements and contradictions arising from differences in views, interests and values.

However, in order to better understand the nature of conflict among young people, it is necessary to consider the broader context in which it occurs, namely, the social well–being of young people. After all, it is well-being or its absence that can contribute to or prevent conflict situations. Among the foreign authors who have studied well-being, R. Easterlin, N. Bradburn and D. Kahneman can be distinguished. N.A. Baturin, G.L. Voronin and M.K. Gorshkov made significant contributions to Russian science.

In his psychological concept of well-being, K. Riff identifies components of positive personality functioning, such as well-being, having a life goal and positive relationships with others. It is important to note that social well-being is often identified with the concepts of social well-being, social security and life satisfaction, but there is no single definition in the scientific literature. ^[7]

Social well-being can be considered as an integral indicator reflecting the interrelation of objective and subjective characteristics of the situation of various social actors. Social well–being is a social phenomenon determined by the daily living conditions of people (its subjects), in which they satisfy their needs and interests, realize social expectations and life plans. ^[7] The authors show an inadequacy in public opinion's perception of the reality of social well-being. According to the researchers, this is largely due to the lack of awareness of the population, as well as distorted information received from the media and other sources (social networks, etc.). The result of overestimating the negative sides and underestimating the positive aspects can be a decrease in life satisfaction and the formation of appropriate human behavior ^[8].

Social disadvantage, in turn, can be considered as the opposite pole of social well-being. It manifests itself in the destruction of family and kinship ties, a decrease in the quality of life and a deterioration in life support conditions. Within the framework of this phenomenon, various forms are distinguished, including deviant behavior, addictions and violations of social norms. The problems of youth related to social disadvantage worsened at the end of the 20th century, when scientific and technological progress contributed to the simplification of the culture of communication and a decrease in respect for the interlocutor.

Young people, when faced with limited opportunities in education, work and healthcare, experience negative emotions and a sense of injustice, which can lead to conflicts. Subjective disadvantage, expressed in dissatisfaction with the financial situation, is formed not so much because of low incomes, but because of everyday problems that people cannot cope with on their own. ^[9] Social disadvantage plays a significant role in conflict situations, since problems in such areas as the economy, education and health care can exacerbate social inequality and provoke protest actions.

According to the concept of deprivation, the protest behavior of young people is formed as a result of discontent caused by a discrepancy between the real and expected state of affairs. ^[10] N. Smelzer focuses on the fact that social protest includes elements of mass unrest and destruction between society and government structures. L. Kozer connects social protest with manifestations of social inequality and psychological dissatisfaction, which creates tension among various social groups.

Thus, social disadvantage acts as an integral indicator of the functioning of the social sphere and a factor of conflict, contributing to discontent among young people and manifestations of social protests. The relevance of researching the causes of youth discontent and increasing the level of their social well-being becomes obvious in order to prevent conflicts in society.

Research methodology and methods

As part of the study of the level of social well-being as a factor of conflict in the youth environment, a methodology was developed that includes the use of various methods and principles of operationalization of basic concepts, and a sociological study was conducted among the youth of Barnaul. The research was implemented through a survey in the form of a questionnaire and an in-depth interview. The general body of the study was made up of students of educational institutions in Barnaul.

The study was conducted using a selective method. The sample consists of 348 respondents, namely, students of six higher educational institutions: AltSU, AltGPU, ASAU, AltGTU, ASMU, BUI of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. The sample size was determined by the researcher's capabilities. The type of sampling is targeted. The method of selecting units of the general population was a quota sample, the selection parameters were the higher educational institution and the gender of the respondent. The sample included 58 students from each higher education institution (29 men and women each). 20 informants took part in the in-depth interview, 10 of them men and 10 women.

The results of the study

Consideration of the conflict of social disadvantage should begin with an objective assessment of the social well-being of our respondents. And, accordingly, dissatisfaction with one or another aspect of life can cause dissatisfaction among young people, reflect their disadvantage. First of all, it is necessary to find out how respondents define this phenomenon.

Table 1. Distribution of respondents' answers to the question "What do you mean by social well-being?" (in% of the number of respondents).

From table 1, we see that the majority of respondents (69.4%) consider the most appropriate definition to include in social well-being not only the satisfaction of biological needs, but also social and cultural ones (69.4%). The second most popular answer was the option of definition through equal access to education, healthcare, housing and cultural values (57.4%). This suggests that the needs of the lower level or physiological (according to A. Maslow's pyramid) are not the most important for young people, aesthetic and cognitive needs are also important for them. The options "having money" (32.4%) and "having an acceptable place to live and enough food" are not the most common, but they were still noted by respondents. The participants of the in–depth interview noted that for them social well-being is a multifaceted phenomenon, including, first of all, financial security, as well as a pleasant psychological climate in the family and much more: "I believe that when a person's life is going well in all spheres, when there is enough money for any purpose, when he can afford absolutely any vacation, then he can be classified as socially prosperous"; "I believe that in addition to material prosperity, a sense of security can be included in social well-being, when you are sure you know that you won't be attacked or robbed when you don't have to worry about your life and the lives of your family." In addition, respondents look at the concept of social well-being as an indicator of the overall quality of human life: "I think that social well–being is a general indicator of the level and quality of human life, it is high prosperity, there is enough of everything, good education and medical care."

Next, we considered it necessary to find out to what extent certain values are important to respondents, the results can be seen in table 2. Almost all the values presented in the question are very important to respondents.

Table 2. Distribution of respondents' answers to the question "Are the values presented in the table important to you?" (in % of the number of respondents)

Note that the answer "no" is extremely rare, only in the case of social values (participation in public and political life, volunteering, etc.) – 4.6%, as well as the value of health – 0.9%. Both family values (84.3% and 14.8%) and personal development (80.6% and 17.5%) are definitely important to respondents. The level of social well-being also plays an important role for them (81.5% and 15.7%). The participants of the in-depth interview note the primacy of economic and family values: "For me, economic values play a very important role in life, so I am ready to work to earn a lot, although I note that due to constant work, there is not always time to spend this money. It's probably worth thinking about whether it makes sense to live like this. Of course, in addition to mercantile motives, I give a separate role to family values in my life, so I usually spend money on my family." The respondents also mentioned the importance of spiritual values: "Visiting theaters and cinemas seems to me necessary for life, I am glad that our state is implementing a program to support young people in this regard, namely, the opportunity to use the Pushkin map." Someone notes the value of social well-being as the broadest and most important, since it includes all the other values we mentioned earlier.

To consider the objective level of social well-being of the respondents, questions were asked aimed at clarifying the actual quality of their lives in these areas: place of residence, education, work, medical care, as well as leisure.

Living and financial independence: according to the survey results, 40.7% of respondents live with their parents, which may indicate dependence on family resources and lack of financial independence. 30.6% of students rent housing, which indicates a desire for independence, although accompanied by financial difficulties, as noted by the participants of the in-depth interview. Living in a hostel (19.4) also highlights the limited housing options. The question about the intention to buy their own housing showed that 42.6% of respondents plan to do so, but high mortgage rates and the cost of apartments create significant obstacles. This highlights the importance of housing as a factor influencing the level of social well-being. In addition, it was important for us to find out whether respondents had a desire to change their residence: 66.7% of respondents express a desire to move, but 50.9% find it difficult to take this step due to financial constraints and attachment to studies. This indicates a potential conflict between the desire to improve living conditions and real opportunities.

Access to medical services: An analysis of access to medical services showed that the majority of students prefer paid clinics (47.7%), which indicates dissatisfaction with the quality of free medical care. The main problems, such as queues and the difficulty of making appointments with specialists, highlight the shortcomings of the system, which can contribute to an increase in conflict among young people.

Satisfaction with education: Only 25% of respondents are confident that they are studying at the desired university, which indicates existing problems in the education system. Students often choose an educational institution because of limited opportunities, which can reduce their motivation and satisfaction.

Leisure: Youth leisure is also an important indicator of social well-being. Despite the desire to travel, 76.8% of respondents face financial constraints. This deprives them of the opportunity for proper rest and communication, which can contribute to increased stress and conflict levels.

Safety and social support: The survey results showed that 54.6% of respondents feel safe, but women are more likely to feel insecure due to lack of social support. This highlights the need to create a supportive environment for young people, especially women, in order to reduce the level of conflict.

In general, the data obtained on the actual quality of life of the respondents indicate that social disadvantage, manifested in financial constraints, lack of access to quality services and low level of life satisfaction, is a significant factor of conflict among young people. Measures are needed to improve social well-being, which, in turn, can help reduce the level of conflict among young people.

Next, it was important for us to determine the level of satisfaction of respondents with aspects of their lives: health, chosen specialty, relationships with others, level of material prosperity, as well as family status. The distribution of responses is shown in table 3.

Table 3. Distribution of respondents' responses regarding their satisfaction assessment according to the items presented in the table (in% of the number of respondents)

From the table, we see that the respondents are mostly satisfied with their health (73.1%), their chosen specialty (74.1%), relationships with others (94.4%), as well as family status (75.0%). Slightly lower satisfaction of young people was revealed by their level of material prosperity – 58.3%. The participants of the in–depth interview note a lack of finances, and the main reasons for this are insufficient numbers for work. It is clear that not all full-time students have the resources and opportunities to combine study with work. And they also feel the unfairness of their pay: "I'm not sure how much I work is commensurate with how much I earn." In this case, the students of the budget set are saved by a scholarship and financial assistance, which, in principle, is enough for a life without frills.

Further, the following aspects of life were presented to respondents for satisfaction assessment: living conditions, the opportunity to receive good education and quality medical care, as well as a sense of security and leisure. The distribution of responses is shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 1 Distribution of respondents' responses regarding their satisfaction assessment according to the points shown in the figure (in% of the number of respondents)

We see that respondents are more satisfied or rather satisfied with aspects that determine the level of social well-being of young people. In an in-depth interview, a separate opinion of the respondents was expressed on the relative accessibility of good education: "In my opinion, the quality of educational services can be assessed by what remains in the head after learning. In this regard, I am completely dissatisfied, since at the moment there is such a situation in the education system that a huge amount of information needs to be searched for myself. Real education is provided only to those who want it on their own and do a lot to achieve this goal."

So, respondents recognize the negative aspects of their lives as previously represented by factors of social well-being, despite this, they still assess the situation as satisfactory as a whole. This can probably be explained by the fact that respondents have already adapted to the negative aspects, got used to them and are trying to find positive sides in living conditions, access to good education and quality medical services, as well as in leisure, which contributes to their satisfaction. In addition, respondents may be satisfied with the fact that their needs and expectations are being met at least partially.

The assessment of social well-being is a subjective process that depends on individual experiences, therefore it is important to take into account not only objective indicators, but also the perception of one's own position by a person for a more complete understanding of the social well-being of young people. We asked respondents to rate their level of social well-being on a 10–point scale, where 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest. The distribution of respondents' responses is shown in Figure 2. The majority noted their level of social well-being at 7 (32.4%).

Fig. 2 Distribution of respondents' answers to the question "Assess your level of social well-being on a 10-point scale, where 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest" (in% of the number of respondents)

We see that the majority of respondents rate their level of social well-being quite highly. Although they had previously noted some aspects that affect a decrease in the quality of life. This can be explained by the fact that they look optimistically at life and suppress the negative aspects. In addition, the subjectivity of the assessment of well-being also affects the results of our study. The negative aspects that were mentioned earlier, according to respondents, may not significantly affect social well-being in general. And, of course, some respondents may assess their level of well-being based on comparisons with other people. In this case, the assessment may reflect their own sense of satisfaction with all aspects of life, even if they have something to strive for improvement. Nevertheless, 17.6% of respondents rate themselves as socially disadvantaged, which suggests that the considered aspects of discontent are considered by them as factors of reduced well-being.

Any problems in a person's life force him to look for solutions, and when a person does not see them, he goes to extreme measures - conflicts, defends his rights as best he can.

Fig. 3 Distribution of respondents' answers to the question "Do you think the level of social well-being and conflict among young people are interrelated?" (in% of the number of respondents)

To identify the interdependence of the level of social well-being and conflict among young people, the respondents were asked the appropriate question. The distribution of respondents' responses is shown in Figure 8. We see that the majority of respondents see the relationship between social well-being and conflict (46.3% and 31.5%). Students probably understand that a low level of social well-being can contribute to conflicts due to dissatisfaction with the quality of life. A high degree of conflict in society, in turn, leads to a deterioration in general well-being.

It is important to find out whether the respondents had conflicts related to factors affecting the level of social well-being. The distribution of respondents' responses to this question is shown in table 4. We see that in one way or another, respondents faced conflicts related to aspects reflecting social well-being. Let's look at each aspect in more detail.

Thus, 31.4% of respondents were in conflict due to living conditions (yes - 12.0%, rather yes – 19.4%). Consequently, students are not always satisfied with them, which may indicate insufficient material security, as well as the unavailability of high-quality housing, its unsuitability for life. Probably, the cause of conflicts may be problems with utilities, and difficulties in relations with neighbors. Accordingly, the level of social well-being decreases if the living conditions cause conflict situations. Housing and its quality play an important role in ensuring a comfortable and safe life. And his unsatisfactory condition can cause discomfort, stress and increased aggressiveness of young people.

Table 4. Distribution of respondents' answers to the question "Have you had any conflicts related to the aspects of life presented in the table?" (in% of the number of respondents)

In the field of education, we observe conflict in 38% of respondents. Probably, students' dissatisfaction could arise from distance education. In an in-depth interview, the following opinion was expressed: "The first two courses were taught remotely. I didn't like it at all, no information was received. The third year is another matter, now I like going to university." In addition, conflicts in education can be caused by the unavailability of high-quality education, lack of opportunities for professional growth. This also indicates a decrease in the level of social well-being of the respondents. The availability of high-quality education is a factor in shaping a person's future and his prospects. There is probably a lack of attention to the needs of students and unfair conditions in the education system.

Let's move on to the aspect of medicine, medical services, which is the cause of conflicts for 45.3% of our respondents. This may be due to insufficient access to high-quality medical care, as well as the need to apply to paid clinics, which entails serious treatment costs. In addition, long waiting times in queues, as well as an insufficient number of qualified specialists, are conflict-causing factors. All these reasons point to the problems of the respondents' social well-being, since access to quality medical care is a key aspect of ensuring people's health and well-being. Unequal access to medicine worsens people's physical and mental health and reduces well-being.

Employment is also the cause of conflicts for 37% of respondents. This may be due to a lack of time for communication, for personal life. Participation in studies or work may take up most of the respondents' time, and may lead to misunderstandings. In turn, 40.7% of respondents identify their material wealth as the cause of conflicts. They are probably not satisfied with the level of money for living, for secondary needs, which leads to tension in the lives of young people. It is likely that the respondents' social well-being is insufficient, lack of time for rest, self-development and financial difficulties can negatively affect the quality and standard of living. Such situations can lead to stress and general instability.

Finally, 26% say family status is the cause of conflicts. They may arise due to dissatisfaction with the marital status, misunderstanding between family members. In addition, differences in values, ideas about household responsibilities or desires are likely. Relationships with loved ones have a strong impact on the well-being of respondents and their quality of life. In general, conflicts in all of the above areas have a negative impact on young people. It is important to be able to find ways to resolve such situations in order to improve overall social well-being.

To improve social well-being, it is necessary to strive to ensure equal access to high-quality and affordable medical care for all citizens, improve the quality of medical services, raise awareness of patients' rights and combat corruption in the health sector. Investing in the healthcare system and ensuring access to medical care for all citizens are important steps towards creating a healthy and just society.

Dissatisfaction with various aspects can affect the lives of young people in different ways. It is important to find out if our respondents are ready to do anything to solve certain problems. They were asked the question "Are you ready to do something to defend your interests in different areas of life?". The distribution of responses is shown in table 5.

Conclusions

Thus, it can be concluded that the social disadvantage of young people can enhance their conflict potential. It, in turn, can result in protests, which will negatively affect the state of the whole society.

Based on the theoretical analysis and the results of empirical research, we have made the following conclusions:

1. A third of young people rated their conflict potential as high.

2. Low social well-being was stated by 15% of students according to their subjective assessments.

3. In the areas that determine the quality of people's lives, 64.2% of respondents who classified themselves as socially disadvantaged faced conflicts.

4. More active and protesting forms of defending their opinions (participation in rallies and strikes) are chosen to a greater extent by young people who are in conditions of social disadvantage.

5. Socially well-off youth prefer to defend their interests in the form of filing complaints.

To reduce the level of conflict in the context of social disadvantage among young people, the following recommendations have been developed:

1. State support for the social adaptation of young people. It can be implemented through the creation of support programs for young people and the provision of access to professional counseling by psychologists or lawyers.

2. Improvement of the financial situation of young people by the state, carried out through an increase in the size of scholarships, the introduction of new social benefits or simplification of the procedure for obtaining existing ones, as well as through the creation of additional jobs with the possibility of combining work and education.

3. Reforms on the part of the state in the field of healthcare aimed at improving the quality of services provided, as well as their accessibility to all segments of society equally.

4. Improving the conflictological competence of young people through the creation of conflictological courses. These courses can be part of training in educational institutions (colleges, universities) or materials on the Internet created by competent specialists in this field.

5. Creation of a favorable socio-cultural environment by the state: support and development of youth initiatives, clubs, clubs, sports sections, where young people can find a common language, develop their interests and skills, as well as expand their circle of communication.

6. Active involvement of young people in public life through participation in social projects and activities in public organizations.

7. Providing opportunities for youth self-realization through the support of startups and the development of youth entrepreneurship.

Of course, the implementation of these recommendations is a very long and time–consuming process, but it will have a positive impact on the state of the entire youth environment, which in turn will affect society as a whole.