Human in the Arctic: dynamics of social well-being in a sociological dimension.

The importance of the West Siberian oil and gas region for Russia, the extreme conditions of its development, and the need to create decent living conditions for its workers have made sociological research in this territory necessary. This article presents some results of a sociological study on the dynamics of social situation in an important Arctic region of Russia — the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO) — covering the period 1990–2020 and 2022–2024. The purpose of surveys conducted in the region was to identify and analyze changes in the social situation and their determining factors by studying the attitudes of Northerners toward different aspects of their lives. The study also aimed to develop proposals for authorities to improve the quality of life for various social groups in the Arctic population. Using the author’s sociological tools (mass survey questionnaires, expert sheets, focus group scripts, secondary data analysis techniques, social diagnostics), we monitored annually the opinions of different Northerners social groups. Special attention is given to the interregional use of labor resources and social infrastructure based on the rotational work method of labor organization. The research results include residents of the Arctic’ assessments of their state of health and health preservation possibilities, as well as quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the contingent of shift personnel and their attitudes toward social living conditions. This information about the social situation dynamics and the parameters characterizing it will help regional authorities to develop and justify strategies for the long-term sustainable development of the Arctic region.