Societal Well-Being Perceptions and Social Justice Assessments among Russian University Students: the Nature of the Relationship in the Context of New Challenges

Introduction. The study of societal well-being perceptions and social justice assessments among Russian university students is necessitated by the impact of regional inequality (including quality of life) on youth life trajectories, potential risks of social tension, and insufficient research on the mediating mechanisms linking these constructs. The study aims to analyze components of societal well-being and the nature of their connection with conceptions of social justice among Russian students, along with regional characteristics of this interrelationship. Materials and Methods. An online survey was conducted (October-November 2024; n = 1.209 full-time students) across four regions with differing quality of life: Moscow Oblast, Tatarstan, Mordovia, and Kalmykia. Societal well-being was measured through indices of social well-being, future expectations, social trust, and anxiety. Satisfaction with social justice was assessed on a 5-point scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and the Sobel test were employed. Results. The composite index of student societal well-being revealed polarization: 54 % of respondents were categorized as having “good”/“excellent” well-being, while 18 % reported “poor” well-being. Within the structure of societal well-being, positive assessments of current well-being predominated (84 %), whereas social trust demonstrated lower levels (44 %). A strong positive correlation was identified between subjective well-being and perceptions of social justice (ρ = 0.63; p < 0.001). The regression model (R² = 0.216; p < 0.001) confirmed the influence of social trust (β = 0.220), and the Sobel test verified its mediating role (accounting for 29.2 % of the effect). Regional differentiation in normative conceptions of justice was identified, correlating with the objective quality of life in the regions and the societal well-being of students. Discussion and Conclusion. The connection between societal well-being and justice perceptions is confirmed. The low level of societal well-being among 18 % of youth and regional differences highlight the need to address challenges in strengthening social trust, providing targeted support for vulnerable student groups, and accounting for territorial specificities. Longitudinal studies of the relationship between societal well-being and justice conceptions present a promising research direction.