The Value of the First Registered Marriage as a Determinant of a Successful Young Family: A Sociological Analysis
Authors:   Institute for Demographic Research – Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rostovskaya Tamara , Kalachikova Olga ,   Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: August 2022

Despite significant changes in the marital behavior of Russians associated with an increase in the age of marriage, refusal to marry in general, the spread of loyalty to various models of marital relations, the value of the family in a person's life, especially in the post-pandemic period, remains very significant. In this regard, the author's position is interesting, which is determined by the conviction that under the conditions of the lockdown and subsequent anti-pandemic measures, the issues of preserving the institution of a multigenerational Russian family have become more acute. Attention is also drawn to the value of the first registered marriage in the life of Russian youth, which is very significant due to the growing role of traditional family values responsible for the preservation of the genetic and cultural identity of society. The article presents the results of a qualitative study conducted in 2021 as part of the second stage of the All-Russian sociological survey "Demographic well-being of the regions of Russia". The aim of the study is to characterize the characteristics of the marital behavior of young spouses and to identify the meaning of family well-being for this category of the population. The sample consisted of 50 in-depth interviews with representatives of young families, equally represented by gender and regions participating in the study, who are officially married, without children. It was revealed that the strategy of cohabitation only after the registration of marriage is due to education, including religion. Those who practiced "trial marriage" differ primarily in duration. As a rule, a short cohabitation before the registration of a relationship is associated with internal disapproval of cohabitation, orientation towards a family lifestyle. Long-term premarital relationships are often linked to living with parents; marriage was concluded after separation from the parental family. Satisfaction with marriage is associated with the improvement of life in terms of a variety of leisure activities, the emergence of a sense of responsibility and maturity, and a sense of support from the spouse. Of great importance in the formation of marriage, family and reproductive attitudes are family relationships and a positive pattern of relations between parents, as well as close relatives (grandparents). In relation to the definition of the concept of well-being, there is a noticeable differentiation of opinions into three groups: the first – exclusively linking well-being with material support, the second – with material categories (respect, mutual assistance, mutual understanding, love, family happiness, the moral character of parents, the presence and upbringing of children) and the third that combines these meanings. The semantic analysis of the texts of transcripts of in-depth interviews made it possible to identify the criteria and signs of the well-being of a modern Russian young family.