Social Activity and Risk Propensity of Students with Autonomous and Dependent Types of Subject Regulation

Abstract

Objectives. The study the commitment to social activity and its various forms in relation to the risk propensity characteristics of students with different types of subject regulation of behavior. Background. The problem of social activity of students as a sphere of their socialization and establishing connections with various social groups and society as a whole is analyzes. One of its most important components is the question of the subject regulation of social activity. It is assumed that depending on the type of subject regulation (Autonomous or Dependent), students prefer various forms of social activity, implement socially-oriented activity, and show the specifics of risk-taking. Study design. The paper analyzes the level indicators of adherence to different forms of social activity of students, depending on the type of their subject regulation; a typological analysis of risk propensity and uncertainty experiences in students with Autonomous and dependent types of subject regulation; the hypothesis of direct and indirect effects of autonomy on General and socially-oriented activity using structural modeling. Participants. The study involved 297 full-time students (36% men), average age M=21; SD=2.74. Measurements. The scale for the assessment of various forms of social activity, feelings of uncertainty with a dimension of from 1 to 5, the method of evaluating component and composite index of socio-oriented activity (R.M. Shamionov, M.V. Grigorieva), a questionnaire of autonomy-dependence (G.S. Prygin), a questionnaire of tendency to extreme and risky behavior (M. Zuckerman). Results. Students with an Autonomous type of subject regulation are more committed to leisure, socio-political, and civic activity, while students with a dependent type are more committed to protest activity. Socially-oriented activity is more attractive to students with an Autonomous type of subject regulation. Students with an Autonomous type of regulation are characterized by higher indicators of non-adaptive striving for difficulties, with a Dependent type-indicators of searching for new impressions and experiencing uncertainty. The continuous indicator of (Autonomous) subject regulation has a direct impact on variations in socially-oriented activity, and indicators of risk propensity are moderators of a direct causal relationship, respectively, of autonomy to socially-oriented activity and age to the overall activity of students. Conclusions. Students with Autonomous and Dependent types of subject regulation are characterized by specificity in their commitment to various forms of activity and their attitude to risk. The causal relationship of subject regulation on variations of socially-oriented activity is established.