In the Mosaic of Society: A Study of the Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Agent Population
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2026.1.2909Keywords:
agency, independence, initiative, socio-demographic characteristics, social structures, family, well-beingAbstract
The study presented in this article aims to create a socio-demographic profile of the agentic individual. The authors define agency as a person's ability to act as an active participant who takes the initiative to change the environment, rather than passively follows it. The authors believe that the demand for such qualities is heightened in a highly volatile world. To achieve the goal if the study, two surveys of the Russian population were conducted using a representative sample. The first one employs face-to-face, semi-structured interviews via tablets (N = 2,000, September 2023). The second one is an online survey (N = 4,00, October 2023). Data analysis revealed that women exhibit the greatest initiative at the age of 35—44, while men exhibit the greatest initiative at the age of 25—34. Most study participants who demonstrated initiative in at least one area live in large cities of the Central Federal District. The highest proportion of people demonstrating agency was found in groups with secondary vocational or higher education. Men living alone or in families of five or more demonstrated the highest levels of agency, while the highest percentage of women exhibiting agency was found in families of four. The data also showed that per capita income increased with increasing levels of agency.
Acknowledgment. This research is part of Strategic Project “Success and Self-Sustainability of the Individual in a Changing World”, which is part of Higher School of Economics’ development program under the “Priority 2030” academic leadership initiative.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Юлия Николаевна Корешникова, Ирина Анатольевна Афанасьева, Дарья Алексеевна Соломинова
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