Bear Attacks? -100 Degree Weather? Gopniks? Poll Reveals What Russians Fear Most

A new poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) has revealed what Russians fear most.

The new VCIOM poll asking Russians what they fear most found that the threat of war and inflation top the list. Meanwhile, cuts in wages, job loss, and family problems are among the things which Russians fear least.

The polling's methodology features an 'index of fears'. The index is measured in points, ranging from —100 to +100. The higher the number, the more likely respondents are to fear a particular problem.  

According to the latest figures, Russians' main fears include war and international conflict (20 points), inflation and falling savings (27 points) and health problems and difficulties in obtaining medical care (8 points).

Other fears include crime (3 points), and conflicts based on political, ethnic or religious tensions (1 point). 

According to the survey, things Russians fear least include reduced income (-3 points), job loss (-18 points) and conflicts with family or relatives (-47 points).

Researchers say that fears associated with international conflicts and rising prices remain the main factors causing anxiety in Russian society, consolidating on trends observed in polling from last month, last year, and in 2015. Polling from June 2016 also showed inflation, international tensions, and health problems as the main sources of anxiety among Russians (21 points, 20 points, and 1 point, respectively). Meanwhile, fears of crime, social conflicts, and family conflicts have declined (by 2 points, 1 point and 6 points, respectively) between 2016 and 2017.

VCIOM polled 1,600 people over the age of 18 from across 46 Russian regions. The poll's margin of error is less than 3.5%.