VALUE SYSTEM OF MODERN YOUTH OF UKRAINE: BASED ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Abstract

This article presents the results of the scientific research of pressing challenges of the value system of modern youth; defines life goals of youth in the Ukrainian society; investigates factors which may prevent young people from implementation of their life plans; analyses factors, which have the overwhelming influence on the youth choice of the future profession; studies attitude of young people to their parents, friends and national family traditions.

At the present stage ofUkrainedevelopment as an independent state, investigations of value system of modern Ukrainian youth have revived. The term "value" is a subject of extensive theoretical and empirical investigations of different scientific fields and remains its relevance.

In order to determine system of youth values, in the framework of the studied issue "Value systems of Ukrainian youth in the conditions of social and cultural transformation", the author has held an opinion poll of young people, living inKievandLutskand also in Kiev Oblast, in 2014. Total number of respondents is 543, at the age of 15-35 years, where 55% young people are female and 45 % – male. According to the place of residence: 67% – city residents; 21%-residents f district centers; 12% – rural citizens. According to the education level: 36% – with a higher education; 19% – having incomplete higher education; 12% – with a specialized secondary education; 25% – having a secondary level of education and 8% of young people who are currently studying.

Modern social and political, cultural and economical processes in Ukrainian society have changed social and financial situation of youth. Formation of value system of young people was adequate to the social processes; it complicated and aggravated problems of a young generation.

The obtained results of the research showed that today’s young people consider as the most important values their own health, health of their family and friends and life of their family. Among human values, young people ranked family first (87, 5%), second love (46, 5%), goodness (47%) and friends (40%); "an independence" for theLutskyouth takes first place, after family; politics (3, 7%) takes one of the last places in the hierarchy of human values.

In the hierarchy of life values of a young person, the value to build a family is a first (77%), second – own health (29, 5%), achievement of material wealth ranks third (24%), career – fourth (22%), obtaining interesting well-paid profession (22, 5%), having good and trusted friends (19, 5%), improving yourself ranks sixth (18%), honesty and decency – seventh (16%), eighth place takes exercising willpower and strong character, charity activities and helping pour people (each 12%), ninth- use of life benefits (10%), belief in God and performing of commandments takes tenth place (10%), and, unfortunately, the last places of the hierarchy of the youth value system takes such values as: growing spirituality, enriching own outlook (7, 5%) and possibility to be useful for society (6, 5%). As results of the research show, family values remain in priority for the youth.

The main factors, which can hinder young people from implementation of their life plans, are: employment problems (47, 3%), lack of decent wages (33%), inability to obtain desired education (30%), unstable economic and political situation in the country and corruption (25, 3%). The main issues which concern youth are material position (58%), professional opportunities (40, 5 %), problems with own health (38, 5%), decline in the living standard (27, 5%).

Among the positive human traits youth called honesty, kindness, sincerity, frankness, fairness and trust. The negative traits are betrayal, lies, hypocrisy, meanness and selfishness. Among the traits which the youth value most of all in people are kindness – 59%, intellect (47%) and politeness -38%.

Outstanding role in the life of youth plays a family. For the vast majority of young people (60, 7%), parents are the dearest people in the world and an example to follow, whom they are willing to help in solving their life’s challenges. 78, 5 % of young people consider a family as the surrounding where they are loved and they cherish it. 56% of young people said that friends also play an outstanding role in their life, because these people will always support them and won’t live in a trouble. Among functions which a family has, the most important for the youth are reproductive, educational, material and economical, function of spiritual communication, control and responsibility over behavior of the family members.

The crucial factor that influence on a choice of a future profession for Ukrainian youth is a real possibility to find a job (60, 5%) and payment level of the chosen profession (33 %).

Among things which make youth kin with the Ukrainian nation are language (59, 3%) and traditions, customs and culture (each 58, 5%). Regularly national traditions and customs are kept in 33, 5% families of a polled youth, in 40% – only in case of big religious holidays and important events. Results of the research showed thatLutskyouth honors family traditions and customs more than young people fromKiev.

The increased interest of the researches to the issue of a value system of Ukrainian youth is a result of more indepth understanding of human nature cognition, which in the process of transformation obtains new characteristics and helps a person to adapt to new social and cultural conditions of life.