Abstract
This article presents the results of an empirical study of social capital among young people in Vologda Oblast, based on a large-scale survey conducted in 2026 (N=1500). Social capital is viewed as a set of resources arising from networks of social interaction, trust, and shared values. The study aims to identify the characteristics of young people’s social capital by comparing it with that of other age cohorts and to examine its relationship with socio-psychological and economic characteristics. The analysis covers three settings: the regional capital (Vologda), an industrial city (Cherepovets), and the region’s districts. Young people’s social capital differs from that of other age groups. In Vologda, it is polarized; in Cherepovets, its distribution is shifted toward higher levels; and in the districts, low and medium levels predominate. A consistent association is observed between social capital and self-assessed material well-being, as well as perceptions of the fairness of the social order. The relationship between social capital and attitudes toward the ‘stability versus change’ dilemma is nonlinear, suggesting that young people’s political attitudes may be shaped by additional factors. The findings extend our understanding of the territorial differentiation of social capital and can inform regional youth policy.
Keywords
- social capital
- Vologda Oblast
- social well-being
- mood
- financial situation
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