Orientaciones valorativas de los jóvenes y sus implicaciones para la política social 1 Natalia Mamedova 2 , Marina Ivleva 3 , Sergey Vityaev 4 , Olga Buzskaya 5 , Aleksandr Rubtsov 6 1 e research was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia (research work № FSSW-2023-0053, agreement 075-03-2023-040/13). 2 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: natalia.mamedova@mymail.academy; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7887-8724. 3 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: marina.ivleva@mymail.academy; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5134-7595. 4 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia; Moscow State Linguistic University, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: sergey.vityaev@mymail.academy; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0616-3973. 5 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: olga.buzskaya@mymail.academy; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6441-1904. 6 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: aleksandr.rubtsov@mymail.academy; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9517-4796. Resumen. El sistema de valores del individuo y la sociedad se forma a través de un proceso complejo y dinámico, moldeado por características culturales, acon- tecimientos históricos vividos, educación y otros factores. El artículo identifica a la juventud como un actor clave en el proceso que transforma activamente las normas sociales y los estándares de comportamiento existentes. El estudio identifica las priori- dades de valores de la juventud rusa contemporánea en el contexto de la digitalización activa de la sociedad. Se presentan los resultados de una encuesta realizada a jóvenes de educación superior y solicitantes que asisten a eventos de puertas abiertas. Los resulta- dos se agrupan según valores personales, incluyendo actitudes hacia las tradiciones, la expresión de independencia y la participación en actividades para lograr resultados y la comunicación, y se analizan en el marco de la orientación política, de consumo y ética de la investigación. El estudio concluye que es necesario investigar los cambios en los sistemas de valores de los jóvenes para desarrollar una política social relevante y eficaz. Palabras clave: autoidentificación, sociedad, política juvenil, política social, red social, identidad, orientaciones de valores, familia. Recibido: 25/03/25 ~ Aceptado: 15/10/2025 INTERACCIÓN Y PERSPECTIVA Revista de Trabajo Social ISSN 2244-808X ~ Dep. Legal pp 201002Z43506 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17640332 Vol. 16 (1): 120 - 127 pp, 2026

Orientaciones valorativas de los jóvenes y sus implicaciones para la política social 121 Vol. 16(1) enero - abril 2026/ 120 - 127 Value orientations of young people and their implications for social work Abstract. e value system of the individual and society is formed through a complex and dynamic process shaped by cultural features, experienced historical events, education, and other factors. e paper identifies youth as a key player in the process that actively transforms existing social norms and standards of behavior. e study identifies the value priorities of contemporary Russian youth in the context of the active digitalization of society. e paper reports the results of a survey of young people receiving higher education and applicants attending open-door events. e results are grouped according to personal values, including attitudes to traditions, the expression of independence, and engagement in activities to achieve results and com- munication, and analyzed in the framework of the research’s political, consumer, and ethical orientation. e study concludes that changes in young people’s value systems need to be investigated to develop a relevant and effective social policy. Key words: self-identification, society, youth policy, social policy, social network, identity, value orientations, family. INTRODUCTION e formation of a value system in the individual and society is a complex and dynamic pro- cess that includes many components with a multidirectional impact (Semikin et al., 2021). e typically cited components include the country’s cultural values, the values of the given era, the experienced historical events, the features of the education system, the social circle, stance in life, lifestyle, and the age-specific stages of personality development, which affect the axiological basis of the person’s worldview (Lewis-Smith et al., 2020; Kodirov, 2021). Scientific articles note that to assess the state of many social processes and model their changes, it is crucial to define the value priorities of young people, which are multidisciplinary (including political science, sociology, psy- chology, and communication studies) (Leonova & Karpenko, 2020; Semikin et al., 2021; Zvereva & Khvorova, 2022; Jamtsho & Wangchug, 2024). Value orientations and their distinguishing features are typically studied within different so- cio-demographic groups, but priority is given to groups including young people (Rubtsov, 2023). is focus is justified by the fact that youth is large in numbers. It reproduces social relations and their structure and transforms existing processes, changing the accepted norms and standards of behavior and ideas about what is important and socially acceptable (Sokolova & Mikhailov, 2022; Apukhtina & Kravchenko, 2023). Because young people experience plenty of events associated with their social status in the system of public relations and self-identification, they represent the most active socio-demographic group that directs changes in behavioral patterns and society’s gen- eral development. Over its long history, society has developed universal values that have remained important throughout generations (e.g., freedom, justice, good, truth) (Bobrovskaia, 2019). e fast pace of technological progress set in the 21st century has forced youth to adapt to new conditions of life, which often change in a non-linear fashion (Lewis-Smith et al., 2020). e people of today, regard- less of their age and occupation, take advantage of information technologies, digital devices, social

122 Mamedova, Ivleva, Vityaev, Buzskaya, Rubtsov Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(1): 2026 networks, and television. e Internet and television now serve as the main information suppliers, shaping people’s value orientations by broadening their outlook (Bobrovskaia, 2019; Mamedova, 2021). Information consumption, no matter the source, is personal, determining the individual’s priorities, development, education, and value system (Sokolova & Mikhailov, 2022). Our study aims to identify the values of youth in the age of active digitalization of a wide vari- ety of processes. e research objectives dictated by this goal were to determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of respondents, develop a criterion-based assessment battery to conduct sociological monitoring and identify the software tools required for it, and obtain and process the results of the monitoring. e study’s theoretical significance lies in its contribution to identifying trends in the value priorities of youth in the context of the changes in the pace of globalization, digitalization, and other cultural transformation processes. Our findings can be applied in an in-depth analysis of identity development in today’s youth, providing a foundation for theoretical models to explain young people’s behavior, motivation, and preferences. e practical significance of our research is provided by the opportunity to utilize its results in the field of social policy through the development of more effective programs for adapting and real- izing the potential of youth in the context of its needs and transformations considering the varying degrees of influence of socio-cultural and other factors. METHODS e study’s subject was the formation of value orientations in young people in contemporary Russian society, which is actively transforming under the influence of digital systems and technolo- gies. e objects under study are the methods, means, environment, and subjects influencing the pace of changes within this process. Under current Russian law, young people are citizens between the ages of 14 and 35. As of 2024, young people account for a quarter of the country’s total population (about 37 million people). About 60% of Russian youth live in cities. e number of young families in the country is estimated at 5.3 million, of which 3.9 million have children. e Russian Federation is cur- rently implementing its Youth Policy Strategy, which aims to create conditions for the effective self-realization of young people. To achieve the research goal, we employed survey methods. e respondent sample included university students and applicants attending open-day events and their companions aged 14–35. e questions presented to the respondents were based on the characteristic value orientations of young people according to S.H. Schwartz’s personal values questionnaire. Among these values were tradition (respect for and compliance with society’s customs, traditions, and culture), con- formity (ability to prevent actions that may harm others), security (achieving safety, harmony, and stability in relationships for others), universalism (reaching understanding and tolerance in different interactions), benevolence (achieving a conflict-free state in interaction both in society and with individuals), power (imposing one’s will on others), self-direction (ensuring indepen- dence in the choice of ways and means of action for certain purposes), stimulation (the drive to achieve new things), achievement (personal success), and hedonism (the ability to derive pleasure or sensual enjoyment).

Orientaciones valorativas de los jóvenes y sus implicaciones para la política social 123 Vol. 16(1) enero - abril 2026/ 120 - 127 RESULTS Below we briefly describe the main results obtained after systematizing and analyzing the survey. 1. Attitudes to tradition (customs and culture). e younger generation does not purpose- fully seek to forget the past, but it is difficult for them to perceive or recognize events that have not directly affected them. An additional obstacle is the emergence of many different, sometimes contradictory, opinions on the same events, both among experts and ordinary people, which are broadcast via the Internet, by the film industry, and in video games. is negatively affects the assessment of historical and cultural events, casting doubt on their significance and discouraging their study. Some view the development of the country or society through the lens of striving to match the living standards of other countries and become skeptical of an emotional connection to the past, believing it to impede progress. Nevertheless, interest in a detailed study or general awareness of historical events and their consequences among today’s Russian school students is kept alive by the school curriculum and extracurricular events, which have become popular in recent years. When answering questions about historical events, school students often cite Conversations about Important ings as their source of information. e Conversations are extracurricular les- sons systematically held in the educational organizations of primary general, secondary general, and vocational education since 2022 to strengthen traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and foster patriotism. ese 45-minute classes take place each Monday after the mandatory lineups with the national anthem and flag-raising. e Conversations are devoted to a theme depending on students’ age and the date (e.g., New Year family traditions of different peoples of Russia, rela- tionships in the family, the Day of National Unity, the electoral system of Russia (30th anniversary of the Central Election Commission), “Russian language. Great and Mighty. 225 years since the birth of A.S. Pushkin”, eco-friendly consumption). Furthermore, schoolchildren and university students report taking part (as participants, volunteers, or organizers) in military-patriotic events. One of these is the Immortal Regiment, which is a movement of people who join the annual Vic- tory Day procession through the streets of cities holding photographs of their relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War, including underground fighters, resistance fighters, home front workers, concentration camp prisoners, blockade survivors, and children of the war. e movement’s par- ticipants also record family stories about their veteran relatives on the People’s Chronicle website). Other examples include the Victory Letter (an international initiative encouraging people to write warm wishes to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and other local conflicts), the Ribbon of Saint George (the participants are gifted the ribbons of Saint George and educated on this symbol of Victory and the courage of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War), the Memory Candle (all-Russian event dedicated to the remembrance of those who lived through the horrors of the Great Patriotic War, as part of which people light candles in the stillness of the night), etc. Answering culture-related questions, our respondents note that they regularly attend events using the Pushkin Card program. e program aims to popularize cultural events organized by theaters, museums, philharmonics, concert venues, libraries, and art schools among young people between the ages of 14 and 22. Participants in the program can purchase tickets at state expense up to a certain annual limit. e events covered by the program follow the themes of patriotic, spiritual, and moral upbringing of youth, preserving family values, developing creative industries, preserving Russian culture and identity, and pedagogics and mentorship.

124 Mamedova, Ivleva, Vityaev, Buzskaya, Rubtsov Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(1): 2026 2. Self-direction. Adolescence comprises several developmental stages characterized by a sig- nificant transformation of moral attitudes and behavior patterns: adolescents wish to be adults and want others to treat them as adults (Lopatina, 2022). Surveys of the relevant age groups confirm this notion. However, answers touching upon the demonstration of responsibility show the respon- dents’ reliance on their parents (e.g., when visiting the polyclinic, buying groceries and goods, solv- ing problems at school, choosing the place of education, etc.), which distorts the notion of personal responsibility. School students do not see the difference between their rights and responsibilities, which hinders the development of social responsibility to society and social institutions (family, school, and state) (Tereshchenko et al., 2025). e survey results demonstrate that this age group has a low level of legal responsibility, meaning they do not know the limits beyond which their action becomes an offense and what kind of punishment they may receive. We hypothesize that the underdeveloped sense of responsibility in adolescents is a result of state education policy over the last decade and the transformation of the family as a social institution. e family has handed over the function of upbringing to the school, while the school lacks effective mechanisms to influ- ence students under current legislation. School students fail to form a realistic perception of social responsibility. Nevertheless, some respondents shape their development trajectory and try to stick to it, recognizing the potential consequences of their actions or inaction. In the course of university education, attitudes to self-direction begin to transform. A particu- larly striking difference in responses is observed between students who continue to live with their families and those who move out. is difference continues to grow through the years of study. e survey demonstrates that first-year students are unprepared for the business communication char- acteristic of the adult environment: they need to independently plan their workload, complete as- signments, build connections with peers and professors, solve conflicts, etc. is situation is noted by nearly all respondents from this age group. 3. Achievement. e analysis of responses points to a general trend spanning all age groups of young people: their priority is to achieve career success (to self-actualize and become financially independent) and gain financial prosperity. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with the desire to be well-off and live comfortably, the growing influence of pragmatic and mercantile values on the consciousness of young people can be detrimental to society. e answers demonstrate that respondents’ attitudes to labor have changed compared with the results of other sociological surveys in previous periods (Rubtsov, 2023). Most respondents are not ready to move up the career ladder if the promotion comes with increased responsibility and less personal space (free time, hobbies, etc.) and are unwilling to work for the benefit of society without personal gain. 4. Communication. e responses indicate that young people communicate using mes- sengers and put their trust in social networks and information from online resources. Students mention having group chats in messengers, chats with specific groups of people (e.g., by inter- est, work, place of residence), and individual chats. is fosters less selective attention because of the short messages, the randomness of attention because of the constant switching between messages, etc. Most respondents failed to formulate sentences correctly (making mistakes in punctuation marks and words). is is especially pronounced among students. is situation might be attributed to the lack of regular Russian language and speech culture classes and the use of automatic error correction functions in messengers and text editors.

Orientaciones valorativas de los jóvenes y sus implicaciones para la política social 125 Vol. 16(1) enero - abril 2026/ 120 - 127 DISCUSSION Value systems, regardless of demographic and age groups, have always been subject to investi- gation in sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, and other humanities (readgold, 2020; Mam- edova et al., 2022). Of particular interest are the features of the development of value orientations in youth as the group responsible for the country’s future socioeconomic development (Barkova et al., 2017; Leonova & Karpenko, 2020; Semikin et al., 2021). Researchers categorize such orienta- tions from the standpoint of political, consumer, and ethical orientation (Zelenkov, 2023; Hockey, 2024). e structure of the conducted research and the use of the questionnaire method in surveys on relevant topics correspond to this perspective. A.G. Rubtsov (2023: 258) notes that “in the course of reforms, the ideology of the social significance of labor and labor education was abolished in society. e value of labor per se dropped to zero, and the image of an al- truistic worker disappeared from public opinion along with the desire to work inspirationally for the benefit of the Motherland”. is is confirmed by the survey results: the respondents are ready to work only in the here and now as long as their interests are not violated without considering long-term prospects. Researchers commonly raise concerns about unquestionable trust in Internet resources (social networks, channels, etc.). M.Iu. Zelenkov (2023: 47) concludes that “young people do not particularly trust the public and political space, have become more independent in decision-making, and prefer virtual dialogical interaction, thus continuing to destroy the stereotypes of behavior and values of Russian society, which can lead to the decline of its culture”. Our findings partially support this conclusion. However, not all of our respondents trust Internet resources completely: they cross-check information using different sources and install ad- ditional software to reduce the amount of unwanted and harmful content. is result is consistent with the findings of other researchers (Vaniukhina et al., 2019; Ruckwongpatr et al., 2022). At the same time, “the dominant feature in the formation of value orientations of Russian youth is its social orientation based on traditional family values” (Zelenkov, 2023: 47). is con- clusion is supported by the survey results (the development of values related to nobility, respect, and kindness in the family) and the analysis of statistics on the participation of young people in charitable, public, and environmental initiatives (Shamionov, 2020). CONCLUSIONS Value orientations are important components in every person’s life, as they shape their men- tality and worldview. Value orientations represent the person’s subjective ideas about their goals in life and those of their family, society, and state, which give grounds for assessing one’s and others’ behavior. e current state of the value system is changing in the context of historical events, the social circle, the educational environment, and family values. is leads us to conclude that the younger generation experiences life events consciously, actively transforming values and priorities.

126 Mamedova, Ivleva, Vityaev, Buzskaya, Rubtsov Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(1): 2026 Our findings emphasize the need to conduct similar studies to monitor the current state of the value system in contemporary youth and analyze the results in the context of interaction between different age and demographic groups. is research will be instrumental in identifying the condi- tions and mechanisms needed to combat social injustice, negative stereotypes, and persistent social stigmas if Russia continues to suffer from population aging. One promising direction for further research is to explore the phenomenon of a sense of responsibility for oneself and one’s identity group or even society. is phenomenon is primarily associated with volunteer movements and ideas that are especially popular among today’s Russian youth. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES • Apukhtina, V. R., & Kravchenko, S. A. (2023). ”Vozmozhnosti art-proekta kak instrumenta v formirovanii tsennostnykh orientirov molodezhi (iz opyta raboty Kurskogo kolledzha kul- tury)” [“e possibilities of an art project as a tool for the formation of value orientations of young people (work experience of the College of Culture)”]. Provintsialnye nauchnye zapiski, 1 (17), 28–31. • Barkova, E., Buzskaya, O., Ivleva, M., & Buzskij, M. (2017). Ecology of culture in the space of social and hmanitarian knowledge. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International conference on contemporary education, social sciences and humanities (ICCESSH 2017). Vol. 12 (pp. 12–15). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/ICCESSH-17.2017.3 • Bobrovskaia, M. A. (2019). “Tsennostnye orientatsii molodezhi v sovremennom obshchestve” [“Value orientation of young people in modern society”]. Sciff. Questions of Students Science, 1 (29), 169–173. • Hockey, J. A. (2024). “When private meets public: Young people and political consumerism in the name of environmental activism”. Journal of Youth Studies, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.10 80/13676261.2024.2370275 • Jamtsho, T., & Wangchug, K.T. (2024). “Determinants of values of integrity in bhutanese youth: An empirical study”. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 37 (3), 25–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/jesbs/2024/v37i31310 • Kodirov, N. M. (2021). “Current issues of formation of information culture in youth”. Philo- sophical Readings, 13 (4), 2971-2976. • Leonova, O. V., & Karpenko, S. P. (2020). Tsennostnye orientiry sovremennoi molodezhi (po rezultatam sotsiologicheskikh issledovanii) [Value orientations of contemporary youth (based on the results of sociological research)]. In: Bocharnikova, I. S. (Ed.) Prikladnye sotsiologiches- kie issledovaniia astrakhanskogo regiona. Iss. III (pp. 124-131). Astrakhan: IP Sorokin Roman Vasilevich. • Lewis-Smith, I., Pass, L., & Reynolds, S. (2020). “How adolescents understand their values: A qualitative study”. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26 (1), 231–242. http://dx.doi. org/10.1177/1359104520964506. • Lopatina, T. A. (2022). “Sotsialnyi aspekt povedeniia podrostkov v sovremennom mire” [“e social aspect of adolescent behavior in the modern world”]. Actual Problems of Pedagogy and Psychology, 3 (8), 30–36.

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