Authors

• Gronow, Jukka (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)
• Haavio-Mannila, Elina (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)
• Kivinen, Markku (University of Lapland. Department of Social Studies)
• Rotkirch, Anna (University of Helsinki. Department of Social Policy)

Keywords

abortion, birth control, fringe benefits, interpersonal relations, life styles, occupational life, sexual behaviour, sexual intimacy, sexuality, social networks, workplace relations

Abstract

A survey of the lifestyles and sexual habits of persons living in St. Petersburg, Russia. The topics covered included occupational life: relations with co-workers, stressfulness and independence of work and the respondent's possibility to influence decisions in the workplace. Fringe benefits, changes in them and changes in the work generally during the past 5-10 years were surveyed. Respondents were also asked about property owned and sources of income.

Social networks were also studied. Questions focused on who takes care of the household work (domestic responsibilities) in the family, how close respondents feel to their near relatives, did they meet their friends less often than five years earlier and why. Respondents were asked whether they had helped relatives, friends, colleagues or neighbours in the following matters: to get a job, find inexpensive food, acquire durable goods, get medicine or receive medical treatment, acquire or renovate a house/flat etc. Membership in groups, associations, voluntary organizations and church were charted, likewise political attitudes and political interest. Respondents were asked whether they had had problems with the authorities for political, ethnic or religious reasons. Respondents rated the importance of certain factors (e.g. hard work, wealthy family, good education) for succeeding in their society at the time of the survey and 10-15 years earlier.

Lifestyles were covered with several questions about leisure time habits and readership of newspapers. Smoking, alcohol consumption, use of hygiene and beauty products, respondents' general state of health, satisfaction with life, exercise habits, height and weight were surveyed. One topic pertained to respondents' childhood home.

The survey contained data on respondents' sexual life and sexual morality. Questions covered sex education, current steady relationship and its happiness. Respondents were asked whether it was easy to talk about sex with parter and friends and whether they loved or were loved by someone. The survey also carried a set of attitudinal statements relating to women's right to take sexual initiative, homosexuality, casual affairs, abortion, prostitution, sex between young people. Sexual harassment and affairs in the workplace (office affairs) and their consequences were studied. Some questions focused on contraception use at present and 5-10 year before and problems connected with acquiring and using contraception.

Respondents were asked about their most recent sexual intercourse (time of occurrence, position), how satisfactory sex was on the whole and whether they would like to have more sex. The total number of sexual partners and the age of first intercourse were queried. Other questions pertained to reaching orgasm/climax, experiences of oral sex or masturbation, sexual interest in the same sex and casual affairs outside the steady relationship (extra-marital affairs).

Background variables included, among other, respondents' sex, marital status, age, nationality, number of marriages/cohabiting unions, education, occupation, second job, main activity, employer sector, employment type, number and ages of children, children's school, housing tenure, household characteristics, duration of residence in St. Petersburg, occupation of parents and age, nationality and occupation of the spouse/live-in partner.