Risky health-related behavior of Russians: dynamics and impact factors

The review analyzes health risk behaviors of Russians in the ‘pre-pandemic’ (2018–2019), ‘pandemic’ (2020–2021) and ‘post-pandemic’ (2022) periods. Risk behaviors of Russians have been studied in dynamics relying on the secondary analysis of the longitudinal database of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the National Research University Higher School of Economics; also, factors able to induce changes in them have been established. Evidence is provided to prove a multidirectional dynamics in risk behaviors among Russians during the COVID-19 pandemic: there was a decrease in medical and physical activities along with conditionally stable alcohol and tobacco consumption Men, people younger than 35, and those who did not have children were established to be less active in their interactions with official healthcare organizations and less concerned about their health. A size of a settlement where respondents resided had certain influence on their physical activity (more than 80 % of rural residents pointed out they did not do sports regularly). Addictive behaviors depended on sex, age, and having a partner: men and those respondents who were either married or cohabitated with a partner smoked and drank alcohol much more often. Certain socio-demographic groups tended to replace health protection practices with risky behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women, elderly people and single people tended to become less active as regards healthcare (and many of them remained non-active in the post-pandemic period). In addition to that, single respondents tended to become less physically active during eh pandemic. Addictive behaviors were more typical for men and employed people. Based on the obtained empirical data, the ‘pandemic’ period is described as a stage that does not facilitate occurrence and maintenance of greater adherence to health protection behavior among Russian citizens. Given low levels of trust in the public healthcare and high anxiety, lower medical activity of population has become an entrenched risk behavior pattern as regards health during the ‘post-pandemic’ period as well. It seems highly advisable to develop effective complex programs on health protection for different population groups including those aimed at making healthcare more available, conducting relevant preventing activities, and raising people’s awareness about value of health and ways to protect it.