INSTITUTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN THE ESTIMATES OF THE VOLOGDA OBLAST POPULATION

Abstract

The purpose of this article is the analysis of the attitude of the Vologda Oblast population with children toward the institutions of professional assistance to families with children, namely, to the services of psychologists and nannies. The information base was the results of the next stage of the sociological monitoring of the reproductive potential of the population of the Vologda Oblast, conducted by the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2021. The study found that despite the low prevalence of practices of applying for professional services of family psychologists and nannies among the population of the Vologda Oblast, the estimates of the assistance provided were quite high, which indicates the effectiveness of this kind of assistance for families with children. More than a quarter of respondents (27 %) expressed their willingness to seek the help of a psychologist, and almost every fifth respondent (19 %) expressed their willingness to seek the services of a professional nanny. The main reasons for refusing professional help are the unwillingness to take problems out of the family and the attitude to solve them independently. There are noticeable differences in the experience of applying for professional help from psychologists and nannies, in their assessments, readiness to receive such services and the reasons for refusing them, depending on the gender, age, marital status of respondents, their satisfaction with marriage, the number of children in their families, including the presence of minor children.