printGenerational Scenarios of Delayed Happiness
Abramova S.B.
Cand. Sci (Sociol.), Assoc. Prof., Assoc. Prof.r of the Department of Applied Sociology. Ural Institute for the Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia. s.b.abramova@urfu.ru
Antonova N.L.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., Prof. of the Department of Sociology and Technologies of Public and Municipal Administration. School of Public Administration and Entrepreneurship, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia. n.l.antonova@urfu.ru
The research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation No. 24-28-00617.
Abramova S.B., Antonova N.L. Generational Scenarios of Delayed Happiness. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2025. No 10. P. 131-146
The article, based on survey data (n = 1170), determined that the emotional mood of the population includes scenarios according to which happiness is postponed indefinitely. The results of the study indicate a decrease in the severity of scenarios of delayed happiness with age. For respondents aged 18–24, the dominant scenarios are those related to personal development, gaining independence, and professional and work-related fulfillment. Among respondents aged 25–45, there is a shift in focus towards social status and material stability. Respondents aged 46–60 are more often focused on achieving stability and completion in life scenarios. Barriers to achieving happiness are uncertainty and self-prohibitions. The focus on increasing happiness through achieving goals in the future unites respondents of different age groups, but the content of goals differs depending on the value-meaning life perspective.
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