OREANDA-NEWS. Levada Center, a Russian independent, non-governmental polling and sociological research organization, carried out a survey about the fears of Russian citizens.

The study was conducted among 1601 people over 18 years in 137 settlements of 50 regions of Russia. The average score was calculated on a five-point scale: from 1 “I have no fear at all” to 5 “I feel constant fear.”

In general, the list of strongest fears has not changed much since 1994, when the first survey was conducted.

Most of all, the respondents fear the illness of relatives and children (4.2 points), world war (3.4), the arbitrariness of the authorities (3.4) and illness (3.4). After that poverty (3.2 points), return to repression (2.9), toughening the regime (2.9), attack of criminals (2.8) and AIDS (2.8) follow. Fear of death got just tenth place with 28 points. Other fears of Russian residents are disaster (2.7 points), loss of savings (2.5), job loss (2.5), public humiliation (2.5) and old age (2.5 points).

At the same time, 61 % of respondents are constantly afraid of the illness of family members, 42 % of them fear the world war, 33 % the arbitrariness of the authorities. Compared to a similar survey of 2018, people have become less afraid of the illness of relatives, world war, attack of criminals, AIDS, loss of savings and jobs. Higher scores are registered for fears of old age, poverty and illness.

Denis Volkov, the deputy director of Levada Center, notes that over the past few years, there has been a general increase in anxiety. According to the sociologist, for all indicators, the number of answers “I feel constant fear” is growing. He connects this with the economic situation, the disbelief of people in their own forces, and their disappointment in state power.