Transformation of Family Attitudes in Modern Russian Society

This article analyzes the transformation of marital and reproductive attitudes in contemporary Russian society amid the profound sociocultural, economic, and demographic changes of recent decades. The relevance of the study is determined by the importance of the family as a key social institution, ensuring population reproduction, transmitting cultural norms, and fostering social resilience. Studying these changes reveals the contradiction between the traditional symbolic status of the family and actual patterns of marital behavior, which is important for assessing social development and formulating effective public policy. For empirical analysis, a review of various studies by VTsIOM and the National Research University Higher School of Economics, as well as scientific publications by Russian researchers published over the past 10 years, was conducted. The authors identified several key contemporary trends: rising ages of marriage, expanding practices of unregistered cohabitation, declining motivation for procreation, and increasing values of individual self-realization and autonomy. These changes are particularly pronounced among young people under 25, who demonstrate a preference for individualistic family models and a postponement of marital and reproductive decisions. At the same time, the family retains a high symbolic status as an institution that ensures social integration and the reproduction of stability. The gap between the desired and actual number of children, economic and institutional constraints, and the need for parents to adapt professionally create persistent barriers to realizing reproductive intentions. The authors conclude that the observed processes do not indicate a crisis in the institution of the family, but rather reflect its adaptation to the conditions of globalization, digitalization, accelerated social mobility, and the transformation of value orientations. These findings emphasize the need to rethink public policy in the areas of support for marriage, parenthood, and demographic development, taking into account contemporary sociocultural realities.