SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENT YOUTH: FACTORS OF INFLUENCE ON SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITY

Abstract

The article states that social expectations are an essential aspect of youth development. In the context of constant changes in educational and social processes, there is a need to study the social expectations of students to identify their trends and find out how they affect the educational process and the prospects for their development in the future. The purpose of this study is to identify current trends in the social expectations of students, to study the impact of these expectations on their academic and social activity, and to develop recommendations for the formation of positive social attitudes in the educational process.
To achieve the goal, the following tasks have been defined: 1) to analyze theoretical approaches to the study of social expectations of young people; 2) to determine the main factors that influence the formation of social expectations of students; 3) to investigate the level of social expectations of school youth in modern conditions; 4) to develop recommendations for increasing the level of social adaptation of education seekers through the formation of positive social expectations. The following methods were used: theoretical analysis of literature to study scientific sources, questionnaires, and surveys to collect data on the social expectations of school youth, statistical analysis to process the collected data, determine the levels of social expectations, and identify correlations between expectations and other variables, case method to analyze specific situations and experiences of students.
The main factors influencing the formation of social expectations of modern students are identified. Namely, social networks, the influence of the educational environment, and the family. The war has significantly affected social expectations and led to a reassessment of values in line with the realities of today, an increase in patriotism and civic awareness, changes in educational priorities, the need for psychological support and assistance among a broader range of students, etc. Based on the results obtained, several recommendations for pedagogical practice have been identified that can help in the formation of realistic and positive social expectations of students: involvement of teachers as mentors who help students form adequate social expectations; strengthening the development of students’ critical thinking about the information they receive through social media; deepening support for students from different social groups to create equal conditions for the realization of their social expectations and career plans; supporting students’ social initiatives, engaging them in volunteer activities to strengthen their civic responsibility; psychological support for students to reduce social anxiety caused by the gap between real opportunities and expectations, etc.