Psychological Safety of Young People in the Face of Risk and Uncertainty of the Social Environment

Abstract

The research contributes to the study of the personal security of young people in terms of risk and uncertainty in the social environment. The paper aims to substantiate the structure of psychological security of the individual and describe its parameters in student communities living in Russian regions with different economic, demographic, and socio-cultural conditions (Pskov region and the Republic of Dagestan). We regard the manifestations of social and personal insecurity as prerequisites for increasing the sensitivity of young people to negative social influences, including extremist ones. To identify indicators of psychological security and attitudes to extremist threats, we used a standardized author’s questionnaire (N = 283) describing the structure of psychological security, consisting of (1) cognitive, (2) emotional, (3) value, and (4) behavioral components. Also, we identified several contradictions in student communities in terms of the severity of psychological security parameters. The high level of concern for students’ physical and economic well-being, political, and environmental situation in the world indicates their psychological insecurity. Against this background, some students allow the possibility of participating in youth performances to fight for their rights. At the same time, we can consider the values of students’ social activities, mutual help, and protecting individual rights as a resource for developing resilience to negative social impacts. These trends are more pronounced among students living in Dagestan.