Social Well-Being of Older Adults in Minsk and Moscow: A Comparative Analysis of Research Results

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Introduction. The growing proportion of older adults increases interest in studying the quality of life, men­tal well-being, social well-being, and engagement patterns of the older generation in the urban environment. Comparative studies help to reveal the influence of institutional and socioeconomic conditions on the subjec­tive well-being of older people. Moscow and Minsk are comparable capitals in terms of historical development, yet they demonstrate different models of social policy and organization of support to older citizens. Objective. To conduct a comparative analysis of selected aspects of mental and social well-being, social activity, and attitudes towards the healthcare system among older residents of Moscow and Minsk, based on sociological survey data. Materials and methods. The study is based on a comparative analysis of telephone (CATI) and online survey results conducted in Moscow and Minsk (2022-2024). We made comparisons by selecting the closest matching questions from each survey, taking into account sample composition and question wording. The analysis included indicators of life satisfaction, financial situation, self-rated health, social engagement, information sources and attitudes towards medical care. Results. Similarities in key characteristics of social well-being among older residents of the two capitals were identified: comparably low levels of life dissatis­faction, a similar structure of life struggles, and fairly high satisfaction with medical care. In both capitals, the level of engagement in silver volunteering (18-20%) is equally high in comparison to the international context, while involvement in formal sociopolitical structures is low. Conclusions. The observed differences may be considered as two emerging models: an adaptive model in Minsk, focusing on overcoming resource constraints and preserving inherited forms of activity, and a model of critical reflection in Moscow, empha­sizing service quality, higher digital inclusion, and extensive coverage of organized leisure programs.