Elderly Russian citizens feel quite happy - poll
MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax) - Elderly Russians generally feel happy, the majority (56-72%) say they are more happy than not, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) told Interfax.
As of today, over a third of elderly people (33-36%) are satisfied with their lives, the sociologists said having released the survey on the Day of Older Persons celebrated in Russia on October 1.
The majority of respondents do not expect considerable changes in life: 57-59% respondents aged over 56 think that they will live neither better nor worse than now in a year, while only 40% of young people share this stance, the survey said.
Meanwhile, the assessment of health differs in various age groups: 51% of those aged 56-60 and 47% of those aged 61-72 say their health is satisfactory, while 64% Russians aged over 72 give negative assessment to the state of their health, the poll showed.
As to bad habits, smoking for example, 31% respondents aged 56-60 said they smoked, 23% of those aged 61-72 and 14% among those over 72 years, the sociologists said.
Going to theaters and exhibitions is the most popular leisure among elderly people - 35% respondents aged 56-72 go to theaters from time to time and 24-34% Russians of the same age group attend exhibitions, the poll showed.
A total of 32% Russians aged 56-60, 13% of people aged between 61 and 72 and 6% of those aged over 72 use the Internet. And 7% of 56-60 age group said they spent too much time in the Internet.
When asked about TV programs, respondents over 72 years old watch (95%) watch TV the most and 21% admit they watch it too much, the survey showed.
VTsIOM held the poll throughout the year in 130 cities, towns and villages in 42 Russian regions, territories and republics.
