Motivational Aspects of Demographic Behavior of the Population in Post-Soviet Countries
Research Article
How to Cite
Roslavtseva M.V. Motivational Aspects of Demographic Behavior of the Population in Post-Soviet Countries. DEMIS. Demographic Research. 2025. Vol. 5. No. 3. P. 25-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/demis.2025.5.3.2 (in Russ.).
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between human motivational activities, presented as key value orientations, such as attitude towards family, subjective health and life satisfaction, and key demographic indicators, such as fertility, mortality, marriage and divorce, natural growth, etc., in post-Soviet countries, based on World Values Survey (WVS) data and national statistics from 1990 to 2021. Pearson correlation coefficients have been calculated between the changes in various categories of responses to questions about value and changes in demographic indicators in countries of the Former USSR, including Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The results indicate strong and statistically significant correlations between changes in well-being and demographic trends, such as increased birth rates and decreased mortality, when family values strengthen and life satisfaction increases. Conversely, weakening traditional attitudes leads to demographic decline. Mechanisms underlying these relationships are discussed in the context of second demographic transition theory. Results are compared to international studies using WVS data, suggesting the importance of population value systems as a motivational basis for success in state demographic policies, as there is a statistical correlation between values and resulting demographic behaviors. This conclusion extends to measures related to not only reproductive attitudes and birth rates, but also subjective well-being, self-preserving behaviors, and other demographic outcomes.
Keywords:
values, demographic indicators, family, health, life satisfaction, World Values Survey, post-Soviet countries, correlation analysis
References
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2. Roslavtseva, M. V. Value Issues in National Projects of the Russian Federation. Science. Culture. Society. 2025. Vol. 31, No. 2. Pp. 129–144. (In Russ.).
3. Herre, B. Family is Very Important to People Around the World. Our World in Data. 2024.
4. Koshy, P., Cabalu, H., Valencia, V. Higher Education and the Importance of Values: Evidence from the World Values Survey. Higher Education. 2022. Vol. 85, No. 6. Pp. 1401–1426. DOI 10.1007/s10734-022-00896-8.
5. Inglehart, R., Baker, W. E. Modernization, Cultural Change, and the Persistence of Traditional Values. American Sociological Review. 2000. Vol. 65, No. 1. Pp. 19–51. DOI 10.2307/2657288.
6. Tsennosti semeyno-detnogo obraza zhizni (SeDOZH–2019): Analiticheskiy ot-chet po rezul'tatam mezhregional'nogo sotsiologo-demograficheskogo issledovaniya [The values of a family and child lifestyle (Facl-2019): an analytical report on the results of an interregional sociological and demographic study]. Ed. by A. I. Antonov, S. V. Lyalikova et al. Moscow : MAKS Press Publ., 2020. 486 p. ISBN 978-5-317-06320-7. DOI 10.29003/m857.SeDOJ-2019. (In Russ.).
7. Lorem, G., Cook, S., Leon, D. A., [et al.]. Self-Reported Health as a Predictor of Mortality: A Cohort Study of its Relation to other Health Measurements and Observation Time. Scientific Reports. 2020. Vol. 10, No. 4886. DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-61603-0.
8. Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J. D., [et al.]. World Happiness Report 2023. New York : Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 2023. ISBN 978-1-7348080-5-6. 166 p.
9. Diener, E. Subjective Well-Being: The Science of Happiness and a Proposal for a National Index. American Psychologist. 2000. Vol. 55 (1). Pp. 34–43. DOI 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.34.
10. Gudkova, T. B. Conceptualization of the Second Demographic Transition: Heuristic Potential and Limitations of the Theory. Bulletin of Tomsk State University. Philosophy. Sociology. Political science. 2018. No. 43. Pp. 123–136. DOI 10.17223/1998863X/43/12. (In Russ.).
11. Lesthaeghe, R. The Unfolding Story of the Second Demographic Transition. Population and Development Review. 2010. Vol. 36. Pp. 211–251. DOI 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2010.00328.x.
12. Kurilo, I. O. Emancipative Values and Reproductive Behavior in the Context of Demographic Modernization (Based on World Values Survey 2017–2020 Data). Demography and Social Economy. 2021. Vol. 2. Pp. 37–52. DOI 10.15407/dse2021.02.037.
13. Karabchuk, T. S., Kechetova, A. P. The Number of Children and Family Values: Are there Cohort Differences in Europe? Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. 2017. No. 5. Pp. 251–270. DOI 10.14515/monitoring.2017.5.14. (In Russ.).
14. LaPiere, R. T. Attitudes vs. Actions. Social Forces. 1934. Vol. 13, No. 2. Pp. 230–237. DOI 10.2307/2570339.
15. Lapin, N. I. Dinamika tsennostey naseleniya reformiruyemoy Rossii [Dynamics of values of the population of reformed Russia]. Bulletin of the Russian Humanitarian Scientific Foundation. 1996. No. 2. Pp.141–150. (In Russ.).
16. Antonov, A. I. Current Demographic Trends and Analytical Projections, the Problems of Family and Demographic Policy in the Social State. Bulletin of the Moscow University. Series 18. Sociology and Political Science. 2010. No. 4. P. 134–150. (In Russ.).
17. Veenhoven, R. Greater Happiness for a Greater Number: Is that Possible and Desirable? Journal of Happiness Studies. 2010. Vol. 11. Pp. 605–629. DOI 10.1007/s10902-010-9204-z.
18. Vogl, T. S., Freese, J. Differential Fertility Makes Society More Conservative on Family Values. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2020. Vol. 117, No. 14. Pp. 7696–7701. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1918006117.
Article
Received: 19.05.2025
Accepted: 30.09.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Roslavtseva, M. V. (2025). Motivational Aspects of Demographic Behavior of the Population in Post-Soviet Countries. DEMIS. Demographic Research, 5(3), 25-44. https://doi.org/10.19181/demis.2025.5.3.2
Section
Family and Fertility
