Family in social representations of happiness among women of Tatarstan

Abstract

Studies of happiness traditionally explore family well-being and loneliness. While previous psychological research has consistently highlighted a link between happiness — understood as the highest degree of personal well-being — and family life, demographic trends indicate a growing number of single individuals. This trend is driven by numerous social, demographic, economic and other factors, including gender imbalances and religious restrictions on interfaith marriages. There is still a dearth in psychological studies of large social-demographic groups that could account for intra-group differences. Contemporary research in the psychology of happiness emphasizes the need to examine these differences, particularly in societies with traditional cultures. Traditional cultures, while retaining archaic elements and high degree of uniqueness and originality, adopt universal practices that encourage dynamic intercultural communication and cooperation. The interaction between traditional and external cultural influences creates new dynamics that can shape societal changes over time. The study examines the role of the concept of family in social representations of happiness among women in Tatarstan. A total of 24 women took part in the empirical study. Among them, 12 women were married and 12 unmarried. The findings show that for both groups the concept of family was central to their social representations of happiness, while the concept of children also emerged as a significant factor. These results suggest that the importance of family, marriage, and children remains a defining characteristic of the traditional culture in Tatarstan.