Attitudes to euthanasia in Russia and Germany: comparative analysis

Attitudes to euthanasia in Russia and Germany:
comparative analysis


Bogomiagkova E.S.

Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Assoc. Prof. of the Chair of Theory and History of Sociology, St.- Petersburg State University, St.-Petersburg, Russia e.bogomyagkova@spbu.ru

Rogozhina E.P.

master of sociology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia ekaterinarogozhina@gmail.com

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For citation:

Bogomiagkova E.S., Rogozhina E.P. Attitudes to euthanasia in Russia and Germany: comparative analysis. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2017. No 3. P. 88-96




Abstract

The article analyzes social factors that influence the attitudes toward euthanasia among students in Russia and Germany. Despite the regularly published studies on public opinion of euthanasia problem, many factors that affect the attitudes towards this phenomenon have not yet been analyzed. The study discovers such social factors having significant effects on the attitude toward euthanasia as the profile of student’s specialty, religious and political activity. The degree of involvement in the problem of euthanasia has no significant impact on the attitude towards it. Students of natural and technical fields and politically active students are more loyal to euthanasia. Russian students, who major in medicine, estimate the possibility of euthanasia more cautious. Religious affiliation and political views do not determine its acceptance. At the same time, a high level of religious activity often contributes to negative attitudes to euthanasia. Important differences in the attitude to euthanasia of both Russian and German students were found.


Keywords
euthanasia; social factors; religious activity; political activity; specialty

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Content No 3, 2017