The Russians have learned to protect themselves – Newspaper Kommersant No. 169 (7370) of 09/14/2022

The share of Russians who are ready to wear medical masks in public places when symptoms of a cold appear has increased almost fivefold over two and a half years – from 15% to 70%. This was shown by a study by the NAFI analytical center, which Kommersant got acquainted with. The vast majority of Russians (84%) were not in the habit of wearing personal protective equipment before the start of the pandemic, as they did not want to draw attention to themselves, were afraid to look strange or ugly, and also considered such measures to be reinsurance. Commenting on the results of the survey, sociologist Mikhail Churakov said that wearing masks has become a habitual form of behavior thanks to the “social and regulatory efforts of the state.” Psychologist Yulia Bolotova believes that, first of all, people wearing masks are driven by fear for the health and safety of loved ones.

The NAFI Analytical Center (conducts market and public opinion research for commercial companies and government agencies) in August 2022 studied the willingness of Russians to wear masks in public places with cold symptoms. The survey involved 1.6 thousand people over 18 from 53 regions of Russia. It is clarified that the sample is based on official statistics from Rosstat and represents the adult population of the Russian Federation by sex, age, level of education and type of settlement.

The survey found that the majority of Russians (84%) before the coronavirus pandemic did not have the habit of wearing medical masks in public places when they had symptoms of a cold. 60% of fellow citizens, going out with a cold, never used personal protective equipment. 24% could wear a mask, but very rarely.

Those who did not use medical masks on the street, in public transport or other crowded places, most often explain their position by saying that wearing a mask is unnecessary – it is reinsurance (38% said so). 28% of respondents “didn’t want to draw attention to themselves”, 24% “didn’t want to look strange”, 21% hoped that “no one would be infected without a mask” (21%), 7% didn’t want to “look ugly” in a public place.

The proportion of opponents of personal protective equipment was the highest (68%) among Russians aged 45 to 54. 15% of respondents wore masks for colds, flu symptoms and mild illness before the coronavirus pandemic. First of all, these are young people from 18 to 24 years old (18%). In addition, women used protection more often than men – 17% versus 11%.

The mandatory wearing of masks for all citizens of the Russian Federation was introduced on May 12, 2020 due to the need to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Later, depending on the prevalence of the disease in different subjects of the Russian Federation, these requirements were removed. On July 2, 2022, Rospotrebnadzor canceled the mask regime and other restrictions throughout the country. However, the authors of the study note, “a broad educational campaign launched by the media over the years, and the formation of a positive image of a person in a medical mask, removed previously common barriers for Russians and turned the tide.” Now the proportion of those who, when symptoms of a cold appear, are ready to wear masks in public places, has increased to 70%.

Respondents aged 45 to 54 (72%) show a greater willingness to use personal protective equipment. At the same time, women again showed themselves to be more responsible than men (72% versus 68%). Oddly enough, among the leaders are Russians without higher education – 74% are ready to put on a mask.

Nearly a third of the population – 30% – say they won’t wear medical masks outside despite having cold symptoms. 21% of Russians say that they most likely will not use them, and 9% are absolutely sure that, regardless of the state of health, they will never wear a mask in a public place.

Irina Gildebrandt, Director of Strategic Projects at the NAFI Analytical Center, emphasizes that the epidemiological situation in recent years has shaped new hygiene habits in society. Some of them, Ms. Hildebrandt says, appeared as a result of external, official rules and prohibitions, and some of them – due to an understanding of the personal role of each citizen in maintaining public health. “We observe that Russians in general have begun to better understand medical issues, study the relevant literature and engage in self-education in this area. But the main thing is the emergence of sustainable practices of a conscious attitude to one’s health, as well as an increase in a sense of responsibility for the health of fellow citizens, ”comments Irina Gildebrandt.

Director of the Center for Humanitarian Technologies and Research “Social Mechanics”, social technologist Mikhail Churakov adds that at the start of the “campaign to force the wearing of masks”, the attitude towards them singled out two polar groups in society and became an indicator of attitudes towards the state and personal freedoms. “Therefore, with all the simplicity of the issue, the masks caused fierce discussions and multiple expert opinions for and against. The argument was not really about masks,” continues Mr. Churakov. “But the harsh reality in which almost everyone is faced with the disease brought to the surface obvious rational arguments in favor of masks. And the social and regulatory efforts of the state have made wearing them a habitual form of behavior.”

It should be noted that in Russia in January 2021, anti-maskists even filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court demanding to cancel the mandatory wearing of protective equipment. The SC refused it. The representative of the plaintiffs, the president of the public organization League of Patient Defenders, Alexander Saversky, is critical of the data of the NAFI study: “I am sure that if I had conducted this survey, the results would have been different.” However, Mr. Saversky admits that increased attention to masks will continue “for some time,” as people “were very much frightened for two and a half years.”

The psychotherapist of the Doctis telemedicine service, Yulia Bolotova, notes that in fact, a person’s attitude to the need to use a mask depends on several factors. The first is the individual level of anxiety. The second is the current social situation: if there are elderly parents nearby, a pregnant wife, then the person is likely to be more vigilant and ready to comply with the restrictions. And the third is personal experience. “If there were seriously ill people in the family or among friends and one of the acquaintances died, this causes fear for themselves and their loved ones in many people and affects the overall level of anxiety associated with covid,” Ms. Bolotova concludes.

Natalia Kostarnova