Comparative Analysis of the Experience of the Pandemic of Youth and the Elderly on the Example of St. Petersburg

Objective of the study. This article examines the issues of the formation of the agency of the elderly and young groups of the population. In the study, we consider how the peculiarities of the manifestation of the agency of the two population groups differ within the framework of the treatment approach, attitude to restrictive measures and attitude to the possibilities of modern medicine in overcoming the new coronavirus infection. The purpose of the article is to identify differences in the formation of such an agency in two groups of the population and to determine its characteristics. The methodological basis of the research. The empirical basis of the study was semi-structured interviews with young and elderly residents of St. Petersburg. A total of 20 interviews with young and elderly informants were collected. In the framework of a comparative study, the authors emphasize that there are differences in the formation of agency between the elderly and young people, and also note that various everyday stories contribute to the manifestation of agency in young and elderly people in different ways. Results of the study. The study concluded that it was important for young people to form an agency regardless of pandemic restrictions and to have the freedom to not comply with such restrictions. During the treatment of the disease, young people tried to follow proven trajectories and not look for possible alternative ways of treatment, also neglected to find ways to make treatment more effective, unlike older people, who showed great conformal agency in complying with restrictive measures, but at the same time tried to control their treatment and show a proactive attitude as much as possible. In the article, we also highlighted significant differences in understanding the general context of the pandemic and the possibilities of overcoming it through the development of medicine and technology. Research рerspectives. Research on the agency of older people and youth in the period of global transformations allows us to conclude how people of different ages express their proactive position in a period of uncertainty and upcoming crises.