Features of perception of life changes among representatives of Uzbek culture

Context and relevance. This paper examines tendencies of perceiving life changes in people based in Uzbekistan and proposes a cross-cultural comparison between Russian and Uzbek cultural groups. Life changes are defined as challenging situations, as they require increased effort due to the increasing intensity of such situations. The research framework of the cultural-historical approach suggests that perceptions of change and coping strategies may have both quantitative differences and specific meanings across cultures. The objective of this study is to identify the specific perceptions of change among representatives of Uzbek culture using a few lines of comparison: a) within an Uzbek sample for groups with different responses to change; and b) between Uzbek and Russian samples. Methods and materials. At the first stage, the Uzbek sample (n = 279; M = 26,1; SD = 9,11; 82% women) was used to analyze latent profiles was conducted based on the data from the questionnaire “Types of Response to a Situation of Change (TRSC)” (Bityutskaya, Bazarov, Korneev). The analysis provided for distinguishing three groups using the profiles of acceptance of change, rejection of change and that of ambivalent attitudes. For each profile, the features of perception of change were determined using the qualitative data content analysis, the analysis of variance and pairwise comparisons. At the second stage, cross-cultural comparisons were conducted using the Uzbek sample and the Russian sample (n = 216; M = 28,5; SD = 9,8; 84% women). Results. Differences in the perception of changes between the three groups were revealed in the Uzbek sample. The group with the profile of rejection of change is characterized by a more frequent mention of negative emotions, a sense of the inevitability of change, and coping aimed at search for support. The group with the ambivalent profile is more likely to report distraction. In the group with the profile of acceptance of change, positive emotions and assessments of changes, readiness for them, as well as coping aimed at analyzing their own experiences are more often noted. The cross-cultural comparisons of the two cultural groups generally revealed that representatives of the Uzbek culture more frequently reported collective ways of coping, as well as the need for being patient, while rarely mentioning resistance to change. The cross-cultural comparison of groups with similar profiles in the Russian and Uzbek samples showed both differences and similarities (the valence of appraisal and emotions for those with the profiles of either acceptance of change or rejection of change). The results are discussed in the context of cultural models of coping with change.

1. Агадуллина, Е.Р., Белинская, Е.П., Джураева, М.Р. (2020). Личностные и ситуационные предикторы проактивного совладания с трудными жизненными ситуациями: кросс-культурные различия. Национальный психологический журнал, 3(39), 30—38. https://doi.org/10.11621/npj.2020.0304
   Agadullina, E.R., Belinskaya, E.P., Dzhuraeva, M.R. (2020). Personal and situational predictors of proactive coping with difficult life situations: cross-cultural differences. National Psychological Journal, 3(39), 30—38. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.11621/npj.2020.0304
2. Алижанова, М.Р. (2021). Национальные ценности узбекского народа в духовном и социальном развитии молодёжи. Universum: общественные науки, 10(78), 17—19.
   Alizhanova, M.Р. (2021). National values of the uzbek people in the spiritual and social development of youth. Universum: obshchestvennyye nauki, 10(78), 17—19. (In Russ.).
3. Битюцкая, Е.В. (2020). Структура и динамика образа трудной жизненной ситуации. Вопросы психологии, 66(3), 116—131.
   Bityutskaya, E.V. (2020). The structure and dynamics of the image of a difficult life situation. Voprosy psikhologii, 66(3), 116—131. (In Russ.).
4. Битюцкая, Е.В., Базаров, Т.Ю., Корнеев, А.А. (2021). Опросник Типы реагирования на ситуацию изменений: структура шкал и психометрические показатели. Психология. Журнал Высшей школы экономики, 18(2), 297—316. https://doi.org/10.17323/1813-8918-2021-2-297-316
   Bityutskaya, E.V., Bazarov, T.Yu., Korneev, A.A. (2021). The new questionnaire “types of response to a changing situation”: the structure of scales and psychometric characteristics. Journal of the Higher School of Economics, 18(2), 297—316. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17323/1813-8918-2021-2-297-316
5. Бызова, В.М., Чикурова, Е.И., Молутова, М.К. (2013). Этнопсихологические особенности совладающего поведения (на примере русской и узбекской молодежи). Вестник Санкт-Петербургского университета. Социология, 2, 94—101.
   Byzova, V.M., Chikurova, E.I., Molutova, M.K. (2013). Ethno-psychological peculiarities of coping behaviour (on the example of Russian and Uzbek youth). Bulletin of St. Petersburg University. Sociology, 2, 94—101. (In Russ.).
6. Выготский, Л.С. (1982). Собрание сочинений: В 6 т.: Т. 1. Исторический смысл психологического кризиса. М.: Педагогика.
   Vygotsky, L.S. (1982). Collected works: In 6 volumes: Volume 1. The historical meaning of the psychological crisis. Moscow: Pedagogika. (In Russ.).
7. Джаббаров, И. (2007). Узбеки: этнокультурные традиции, быт и образ жизни (С.К. Камалов, ред.). Ташкент: Шарк.
   Jabbarov, I. (2007). Uzbeks: Ethnocultural Traditions, Lifestyle and Way of Life (S.K. Kamalov, ed.). Tashkent: Shark. (In Russ.).
8. Корнилова, Т.В. (2023). Экспериментальная психология: В 2-х частях. Часть 1. М.: Юрайт.
   Kornilova, T.V. (2023). Experimental Psychology: In 2 parts. Part 1. Moscow: Izd-vo Urait. (In Russ.).
9. Курбонов, Т. (2019). Национальный менталитет узбеков: содержание и структура. Россия и мусульманский мир, 4(314), 122—127.
   Kurbonov, T. (2019). National Mentality of Uzbeks: Content and Structure. Russia and the Muslim World, 4(314), 122—127. (In Russ.).
10. Лурия, А.Р. (1982). Культурные различия и интеллектуальная деятельность. В: Е.Д. Хомская (Ред.), Этапы пройденного пути. Научная автобиография (с. 47—69). М.: Изд-во Моск. ун-та.
    Luria, A.R. (1982). Cultural Differences and Intellectual Activity. In: E.D. Khomskaya (Ed.), Stages of the Path Traveled. Scientific Autobiography (pp. 47—69). Moscow: Publ. Mosk. un-ta. (In Russ.).
11. Павлова, О.С., Бариева, Н.Ю., Баирова, З.М. (2019). Исламская психология за рубежом: состояние и перспективы развития. Islamic Studies, 11(4), 850—865. https://doi.org/10.31162/2618-9569-2018-11-4-850-865
    Pavlova, O.S., Bariyeva, N.Yu., Bairova, Z.M. (2018). Islamic psychology abroad: the state and development prospects. Minbar. Islamic Studies, 11(4), 850—865. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31162/2618-9569-2018-11-4-850-865
12. Рудакова, М.В. (2017). Доисламская поэзия как психотренинг счастья. Вестник культурологии, 4(83), 20—31.
    Rudakova, M.V. (2017). Pre-Islamic poetry as a psychotraining for happiness. Bulletin of Cultural Studies, 4(83), 20—31. (In Russ.).
13. Соколова, Е.Т. (2012). Культурно-историческая и клинико-психологическая перспектива исследования феноменов субъективной неопределенности. Вестник Московского университета. Серия Психология, 2, 37—48.
    Sokolova, E.T. (2012). Cultural-historical and clinical-psychological perspective of studying the phenomena of subjective uncertainty. Lomonosov Psychology Journal, 2, 37—48. (In Russ.).
14. Стефаненко, Т.Г. (1999). Этнопсихология. М.: Издательство «Институт психологии РАН»; Академический проект.
    Stefanenko, T.G. (1999). Ethnopsychology. Moscow: Izdatel’stvo «Institut psikhologii RAN»; Akademicheskii proekt. (In Russ.).
15. Bityutskaya, E.V., Dokuchaeva, A.G., Korneev, A.A. (2025). Profiles of response to life changes: situation perception and coping strategies. Journal of the Higher School of Economics, 22(1), 30—48. https://doi.org/10.17323/1813-8918-2025-1-30-48
16. Dadabaev, T. (2007). How does transition work in Central Asia? Coping with ideological, economic and value system changes in Uzbekistan. Central Asian Survey, 26(3), 407—428. https://doi.org/10.1080/02634930701702746
17. Ferguson, S.L., G. Moore, E.W., Hull, D.M. (2020). Finding latent groups in observed data: A primer on latent profile analysis in Mplus for applied researchers. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44(5), 458—468. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025419881721
18. Folkman, S., Moskowitz, J.T. (2004). Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 745—774. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141456
19. Hobfoll, S.E. (2001). The influence of culture, community, and the nested‐self in the stress process: Advancing conservation of resources theory. Applied Psychology, 50(3), 337—421. https://doi.org/10.1111/1464-0597.00062
20. Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work related values. Beverly Hills; London: Sage.
21. Ismailbekova, A. (2013). Coping strategies: public avoidance, migration, and marriage in the aftermath of the Osh conflict, Fergana Valley. Nationalities Papers: The Journal of Nationalism and Ethnicity, 41(1), 109—127. https://doi.org/10.1080/00905992.2012.748736
22. Kuo, B.C.H. (2013). Collectivism and coping: Current theories, evidence, and measurements of collective coping. International Journal of Psychology, 48(3), 374—388. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2011.640681
23. Lazarus, R.S., Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer Publishing.
24. Petrovsky, V.A., Shmelev, I.M. (2019). Personology of difficult life situations: At the intersection of three cultures. Journal of the Higher School of Economics, 16(3), 408—433. https://doi.org/10.17323/1813-8918-2019-3-408-433
25. Stetsenko, A.P. (2023).Cultural-historical activity theory and its contemporary import: Ideas emerging in context and time. Cultural-Historical Psychology, 19(1), 20—29. https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2023190103
26. Zavershneva, E., van der Veer, R. (2019). Vygotsky and the cultural-historical approach to human development. In W.E. Pickren, P. Hegarty, C. Logan, W. Long, P. Pettikainen, A. Rutherford (Eds.), Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology (pp. 1—21). Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.522