Conflicts in the life of undergraduates: an empirical gender review

Cherkasova Tat'yana Vasil'evna ORCID: 0000-0001-5766-6637 Doctor of Sociology TVCherkasova@mail.ru 450071, Russia, Bashkortostan region, Ufa, Mendeleev str., 207, sq. 189 Cherkasovatv@mail.ru

Young people who begin their life activities at the stage of a master's degree acquire other social characteristics in domestic research. According to Makarova S. N. and Reznik S. D., this difficult period is associated with the desire to develop professionally; to increase their research potential; to master new competencies^[1]. Antonova O. G., Khairullina Y. R., Shchanina E. V. Multifactorial motives are added to the assessment of the technical master's degree: professional; utilitarian; success; cognition; self-realization and social duty^[2]. The period of study in the master's degree in a methodological context, in our opinion, is a crucial stage, which is associated not only with the scientific research, professional and status growth of the applicant, but also with the final civil and patriotic self–determination of the individual, with the fundamental determination of his material and family status in society.

The conflictogenicity of students as a pre–conflict, according to Kutumova A. K. and Neustroeva A. B., is associated with the properties inherent in youth - activity, striving for the new and uncertain, willingness to take risks^[3]. Let's add to the list the ambitious plans, the defiant manner of self–presentation, peremptory maximalism - all of them have become a kind of personal card of modern undergraduates. The eventful life of young people who combine graduate studies, work and family role responsibility is accompanied by a variety of contradictions that develop into multi–scale conflicts.

The most significant of them were identified in the social research – 2022. More than a third of respondents stated that they faced "difficulties in combining professional work with their studies at the master's degree–35.2%; the responses of male respondents–20.5%, women–14.7%. It is no coincidence that working undergraduates advocate distance learning as the optimal format for communication.

Russian researchers come to similar conclusions: Opfer E. A. – master's programs will no longer be able to function in the traditional format, they will be expected by the introduction of online technologies^[4]. Solidarity – Kaplan E. And Yeritsyan K. Yu. – the transfer of part of the classes to a format that does not require physical presence is quite possible. There can be both conflict and facilitation relations between work and study, the ratio of which varies among different groups of students [5–p.412]

In our survey, one in five respondents indicated that they were concerned about "health problems, seasonal covid, fear for the lives of loved ones" -19.3%, women were more active–12.5% than men–6.8%. Similar concerns persist in the post-crisis period. One in five indicated a "decrease in the material standard of living and the search for earnings" -19.3%; the answers of women–9.1% and men–10.2% coincided. Studying for a master's degree is a financially costly process for some young people. Undergraduates in 2022 are concerned about "military reports from Donbass and strained international relations with NATO countries" -17%; responses from men of military age dominate–12.5%, than from women–4.5%. The wave is naturally the excitement of the young for life on Earth"-17%; women–9% and men–8% are in solidarity. There was a "fear for the fate of relatives–military personnel and loved ones living in Ukraine – 6.8%; phobias of women predominate–4.5%, than men–2.3%. Vital activity in a contradictory information space provokes intrapersonal conflicts–14.8%; women are 11.4% more emotional than men–3.4%. The conflict intrapersonal state is caused by studying for a master's degree. In particular, "problems with author's research and publications are of concern–13.6%; women's responses predominate–11.4%, men are more restrained–2.3%. They have their own trigger – "daily classroom study in the master's degree and a difficult examination session –6.8%; men–4.5%, female respondents–2.3%.

Kabakhidze E. L. offers an original explanation of the phenomenon of graduate studies through the contradictions of cultures: the culture of the academic environment with the values of rights and freedoms, with creativity and the culture of managerial and organizational, the code of which is strict obedience to rules and regulations^[6].

One in five undergraduates stated that they "live without worries and worries" -17%; women–9%, men–8%. The paradox of indifferent youth is embedded in the institution of the family, which forms a young personality, lays the foundations for its civic characteristics, and financially ensures successful life. Nevertheless, conflicts between young people in families are an immanent phenomenon. So, among the main causes of family conflicts, undergraduates distinguish dependencies. Firstly, "surfing the Internet (games, online correspondence)" -42%; gender matching of responses – women –20.4%, men–21.6%. The magic of the Internet is weakening among mature undergraduates, but it keeps Russian youth in the "networks", provoking family conflicts: 2018 -49.4% of respondents are students; 2021 -28.8% of respondents are bachelors; 2022-42% of respondents are undergraduates. M. Y. Koshmarov is right, revealing the dysfunction of the Internet, which adds a generational conflict; exacerbates the opposing worldviews of fathers and children; destroys traditional ties; devalues the value of ordinary communication; artificially generates introverts; reduces birth rates^[7].

Secondly, conflicts in families are possible due to "youth addictions (tobacco smoking, spices, alcohol, drugs)" -36.4%; female undergraduates are critical –19.4% and men–17%. Survey results in dynamics: 1996 -10.7%; bachelor respondents in 2018-50.6%; 2021-27.3%; undergraduate respondents in 2022-36.4%. On average, four out of ten respondents cite typical youth addictions as the causes of family conflicts.

Every fifth participant in the 2022 survey indicated deviant–delinquent situations in the list of "second–level" reasons: 1). "The influence of friends and antisocial behavior (rudeness at home, on the street; profanity; petty theft; hooliganism)" -22.7%; more knowledgeable men–14.7% than women–8%. The transition from youth to youth determines a "mental turn", the influence of the reference group of friends weakens and the antisocial behavior of individuals changes: bachelor respondents in 2018-45.1%; undergraduate respondents in 2022-22.7%. I am glad that the grown–up respondents "take off the pedestal" their idols of the same age, now they have a law–abiding lifestyle and appropriate behavior in their reference points. A different trend was obtained in dynamics: in 1996, the indicator was 7.4%, and in the surveys of undergraduates -22.7% in 2022. As you can see, the comparison is not in favor of modern youth, rudeness and tactlessness are noted in their behavior, which provokes conflict relations. The next reason is No. 2)."Unsatisfactory studies, missed classes" -19.3%; women are more active–15.9% than men–3.4%. It is likely that family control over the academic success of their daughters is much stricter than control over the success of their sons. An important point is that growing up young people have much fewer conflicts with their parents about studying. This category of youth realizes the importance of high-quality education at the university, family control is significantly weakening over undergraduates. Let's turn to our response dynamics: 1996 -10.3%; bachelor's respondents in 2018 -33.3%; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -19.3%.The age–old controversy of "learning–not learning" has not been eliminated, but it has moved into the plane of "learning, but how?". Only one in five confirmed the continuing trend of undulating growth of conflicts in the family due to poor studies.

Averina K. N. argues well that changes are taking place in the cognitive sphere of a person at the age of thirty: the level of thinking productivity increases, there is an increase in the development of heuristic search, intelligence reaches its highest points of development, reasoning becomes mature, which, apparently, is associated with the acquisition of life experience^[8].

The third level of reasons is interesting, related to the material and household specifics:1)."Ignoring the advice and requests of elders on household issues" -14.8%, female undergraduates–8%, men–6.8%. Acquiring life experience, adequate youth focuses on the family authority of their parents, therefore, this type of conflict decreases three times: 1996 -19.3%; 2018-40.1% of bachelor's degree respondents; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -14.8%. In the dynamics of the responses received, less than one in five conflicts, stubbornly rejecting the advice of parents. According to Zastavenko V. A., in conflicts that take place in the most acute form, the nature of contradictions can affect opponents who stop focusing on the legal, ethical and cultural requirements imposed by society^[9]

2)."Domestic violence of elders against younger family members (threats, beatings)" -14.8%, female undergraduates–9.1%, men–5.7%. In the dynamic picture of the surveys, there is a slight decrease in "domestic violence": bachelor respondents in 2018 -21.6%; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -14.8%. Of course, the grown-up youth (undergraduates) in conflict conducts a constructive dialogue with their parents, demonstrating maturity. And yet, every tenth person in family communication does not receive the expected harmony, but experiences violent conflicts. By the way, at the turn of the century, self-critical respondents believed that physical punishment of young people is possible in special situations when other measures of family influence do not produce the expected effects: in 1999.-29.9%, in 2002.-24.4% of respondents. There are fewer supporters of such ambiguous educational practices.

3)."Unwillingness to find a job and earn money" -14.8%, women–8%, men–6.8%. The responses of women prevailed, it is obvious that in Russian families the control over daughters is stricter than over sons. A slight increase in such family conflicts can be seen in the dynamics: -10.9% in 1996; -31.5% in 2018; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -14.8%. At the stage of the master's degree, mature young people themselves strive to work, they form their financially independent status. In this case, family conflicts over youth parasitism will be minimized. On average, only one in ten young respondents does not want to work.

The fourth level of conflict causes are leisure–intergender triggers, they were chosen by every tenth respondent–graduate student. Among the factors are: "Fashion hobbies (tattoos, piercings, provocative clothes, hairstyle, jargon)" -13.6%; more responses from women–9.1% than men–4.5%. The introduced Western trends remain in a "canned format": -15.5% in 1996; -16% in 2018; -16.7% in 2021; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -13.6%. More than one in ten have conflicts with their parents on issues of "tattoo–piercing" self-affirmation.

Among the conflicting reasons are indicated: "Night walks and visits to clubs, restaurants" -13.6%; more men were noticed–8% than women–5.6%. In dynamics, "night restaurant walks" have become less attractive: bachelor respondents in 2018 -30.2%; 2021-9.1%; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -13.6%. Grown-up youth radically changes the patterns of spending free time compared to youth. Nevertheless, one in ten still has family conflicts due to restaurant and club entertainment.

The set of conflict causes included: "Non–traditional sexual relations" -10.2%; the reaction of women-5.7%, men–4.5%. Dynamics of responses: in 1996 -7.8%; in 2018-12.3%; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -10.2%. At the present stage, one in ten pointed to the LGBT orientation of young people as a significant cause of conflicts with parents.

E. V. Onegina states in a very peculiar way that in the modern Russian context, LGBT values are defined as opposed to "traditional Russian values" and are perceived as a possible threat to the future of Russia and Russian youth^[10].

Similar trends were found in the responses of undergraduates to the conflict alternative: "The choice of a bride or groom of another nationality or race" -9.1%; women–5.7%, men–3.4%. Growing up young people choose marriage partners, and there have been disagreements with their parents. The trend of non–acceptance of interethnic, interracial marriages is visible in dynamics: in 1996 -8%; in 2018-4.9%; in 2021-7.6%; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -9.1%. On average, one in ten respondents is in conflict with their parent family.

Among the diverse reasons provoking conflicts in families are "Membership in informal youth subcultural associations: bachelor respondents in 2018 -12.3%; 2021 -6.1%; undergraduate respondents in 2022 -4.5%. Some young individuals must overcome the informal hobbies of youth and the age crisis barrier in order to move to a new stage of their socialization.

Conclusion

Among the variety of problems that undergraduates face in everyday life, the following were noted: combining work and study; a decrease in the material standard of living and the search for earnings; the opportunity to conduct scientific research and publish the results.

The list of new problems in 2022 includes: post-traumatic fear for the well-being and life of loved ones; "military reports from Donbass and tense international relations with NATO countries"; general issues of existence on planet Earth.

According to sociological data, from the long-term author's research of university youth cited in the article, the hypothesis was confirmed: of course, typical youth conflicts persist in the life of undergraduates, but new situational contradictions appear, often capable of transforming into conflict.

Empirically identified typical causes of family (parent–child) conflicts: "getting into the network" of addictions; material and household specifics; deviant–delinquent situations; leisure–intergender confrontations.

In the behavior of modern youth, according to the undergraduates themselves, there has become more rudeness and tactlessness, which provokes conflict relations.

Family control over the academic and leisure success of daughters is much stricter than control over the success of sons. One in five respondents rejects the advice of their parents and comes into conflict with them.

One in ten respondents in 2022 stated that parents "suppress their children" who do not want to work and conflict; daughters choose "tattoo–piercing" self–affirmation; sons are prone to restaurant and club entertainment; some express LGBT orientation or advocate interethnic and interracial marriages; others stubbornly cling to "subcultural informality" from the time of his early youth.