THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA ON THE IDEA OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN THE STUDENT’S YOUTH
Abstract
Purpose. To highlight the results of the research aimed at revealing the influence of the mass media on the formation of the idea of family and marriage in student’s youth.
Methods. An author’s questionnaire was developed. The questions of which are aimed at determining the following features: the most popular source of information about family; the desire of the student’s youth to check the information received in different sources; views on the representation of the image of family and marriage in media production, from the point of view of students; the attitude of young people to the following characteristics of family life, and how these characteristics, both positively or negatively, are covered in the mass media (nuclear family; official marriage (officially registered ); a family where there is a respect to senior members of the family; a family where both spouses provide the needs of the family; family with 1or 2 children; a family where a husband earns a living and his wife is engaged with household duties in everyday life and children; one marriage for life; a family consisting only of the spouses and their children (grandparents, grandparents and other relatives live separately); an incomplete family (because of a divorce); a family with many children; a family with adopted child / children; a large family where several generations live together; church marriage; civic marriage (not registered officially); childless family; childfree; birth of a child without having a family; free love, casual relationships; marital betrayal; polygamy; same-sex relationships.
Results. The results showed that the Internet, due to its capabilities and accessibility, has become the most popular among the sources of information in the student’s community. The topic of the family, according to the opinion of the respondents, is usually presented in a neutral way, that is, consumers are given the opportunity to evaluate what they have seen or heard and make their own conclusions.
However, the certain influence of the media on the consciousness occurs, and family values and ideas about building a perfect marriage and marital relationship of youth also change under this influence.
Conclusions. There was a certain pattern, the relationship between what and in what way is broadcast in the media and with the views, settings, value orientations that prevail among consumers of media products.
