Interrelation of Values and Emigration Intentions of Student’s Youth of Smolensk

Abstract

Objectives. Define the relationship between values and emigration intentions of student youth. Background. In the current conditions of growing emigration sentiment and real emigration behavior of Russian youth, the problem of identifying psychological predictors of emigration intentions of students as a group characterized by expressed cognitive motivation, high educational level, social activity and mobility is particularly significant. Study design. The author draws on the provisions of A. Aisen’s theory of planned behavior and S. Schwartz’s theory of basic individual values. A face-to-face anonymous questionnaire was conducted on the basis of the four largest universities in the city of Smolensk. The choice of the region is due to its border situation and low indicators of economic development. Participants. 255 students aged 17 to 24 (47% young man and 53% young girls). Measurements. The main empirical method was poll. The questionnaire included “Portrait Value Questionnaire” (PVQ-RR) by S. Schwartz, closed questions to identify emigration intentions and open and closed questions to identify socio-demographics data of respondents. Data processing methods were used. These were frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, α-Chronbach, structural equation modeling (SEM). Results. The desire to emigrate from Russia is expressed in more than half of respondents. Statistically significant connections of emigration intentions of respondents and meta-values “Conservation” (negative interrelation), “Self-Transcendence” and “Self-Enhancement” (positive interrelations) have been found. Conclusions. The emigration sentiment of most student youth is passive and not linked to active activity. The relationships between meta-values and emigration intentions confirm the presence of two different types of emigration motivation in modern students. On the one hand, tolerance, understanding, care, justice and their implementation in the future in the country of planned stay are significant for them. Emigration, on the other hand, is an opportunity to gain wealth and power. Denying the value of the “Conservation” meta-value is more the value basis of emigration readiness than the manifestation of a particular emigration motive.