Strategies for forming the well-being of student families (by the results of in-depth interview)

The methodological basis of the research is built within the framework of understanding sociology and the theory of social action by M. Weber. The paper reveals the content of the concept of a prosperous young family, highlights the parameters of the well-being of a student family. The empirical base of the study is the data of in- depth interviews ( n = 80) conducted with members of student families from 10 regions of Russia. The method of “grounded theory” and the method of reconstructing the life path of the family were used to process the obtained results. The main objective of the study is to identify strategies for the formation of well-being of Russian student families for the implementation of marital and reproductive behavior as well as systematization of problems affecting the decline in well-being. The main problem is financial difficulties of student families. The socio-economic status of a student family depends on many conditions. For example, status of the spouses’ parent family, age of spouses, willingness and ability to combine work and study, availability of a separate housing or resources for rent for a young family. In addition to material problems married students have psychological difficulties adapting to new roles. With appearing children affordable and high-quality medical care, assistance in child care, and inclusion of educational organizations in the development of an individual training plan are necessary. Reproductive orientations of students correspond to the practices of goal-oriented and value-rational behavior (with the exception of cases of unplanned pregnancy) because the birth of children is associated with responsibility. It is revealed that the strategies for the formation of well-being of student families are influenced by many factors. Firstly, there is impact of scenarios for the development of premarital relationships. For example, the transformation of youth romantic relationships and youth love into marital relations, effective joint activity, shared values as the basis for marriage, acquaintance in friends’ company and at work, acquaintance through social networks, “influence of parents”, “need for legal consolidation of relationships”, “responsibility for unplanned pregnancy”. Secondly, the reproductive attitudes of married families is also significant. Thirdly, there is influence of family measures and demographic policy implemented in the region and the resources of educational organizations for effective assistance to a young family.