Leisure infrastructure in the capital region: a typology and socializing influence on student youth

The article is devoted to sociological aspects of leisure infrastructure considering the essence of the concept "leisure infrastructure". The authors analyze the types and characteristics of the infrastructure for young people's leisure in the urban environment using the example of Moscow and Moscow region. The authors examine the influence of various types of infrastructure on the student’s personality, as well as consider the problems of organizing the leisure activities for student youth connected with the development of the leisure space in the capi- tal region. The authors use the materials of the sociological research conducted in 2015 among 550 full-time students of several universities in Moscow and Moscow region, as well as the all-Russian sociological statistical data and authors’ observations. An idea about present sharp increase of importance of leisure activities in life and socialization of the young generation in general and student youth in particular nowa- days is the basis of the sociological study. Leisure and infrastructure created for it under the modern conditions both have a profound effect on the formation of personal qualities of students, their values, goals and priorities. In the subjective perception of young people the role of leisure appears as a major challenge. From a practical point of view, this article can help to gain knowledge about the infrastructure as a sociological category, to identify hidden problems, and to find out new trends and social needs in the leisure of students, which in turn can be efficiently used by local authorities to improve the organization and realization of leisure activities for the students and youth in Moscow and Moscow region.