Growing up trends in Russia and foreign countries: common and specific

Abstract

The purpose of the present article is to analyze growing up trends and specific features of life trajectories of young people in Russia and foreign countries. The key factors accompanying the process of maturation of representatives of Millennial and Z generations include prolongation of the educational process and of acquiring financial independence, expansion of youth boundaries, non-linearity and diversity of life paths, specific cyclicity of “personal” events occurring. The research demonstrates that the life in the context of global risk society and permanent social instability requires young people to develop specific skills, willingness to constantly change and good adaptive abilities. It is also highlighted that the 21st century maturation patterns are influenced by the socio-cultural, economic, political specificities and traditions of a certain country or region. For example, the Anglo-Saxon model of maturation involves a desire for early separation from parents; countries with a strong social support system (Northern Europe), by contrast, are characterized by rather late maturation; societies with weak state welfare systems or with strong family traditions (Southern Europe, Latin America, Afro-Asian countries) usually rely on family resources and support from relatives; the transition from youth to maturity in the developed countries of Asia has a distinctive glocal nature. The mode of growing up in some regions (usually involved in armed conflicts) is subject to the regulations of survival in extreme situations. Russia is characterized by Pan-European and local maturation trends, as the life trajectories of Russian youth are significantly influenced by regional differences. The author also makes an assumption regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends.