Debt Practices in Russian Households: How Family Relations Change with the Emergence of Institutional and Private Debt in the Family

This study looks at how the relationship between spouses changes with money borrowing. According to the theoretical and empirical works considered, it was determined that debt can change relations in two planes: positive and negative. In the first case, the duty unites people,because there is a common goal. In the second, on the contrary, exerting economic pressure on the family, determines the appearance of financial conflicts. Using the qualitative design of the study, 20 spouses were interviewed. The study found deeper "hidden" changes. In particular, there are really two planes of changing relationships after borrowing money. However, not a little important is the relationship with which the spouses enter into a debt relationship. In this case, for families with previous problems in intra-family relations, debt negatively affects their relationship. The opposite can be observed in families where the relationship was good. In this case, the debt was in the nature only of a financial instrument. However, the study allowed us to diversify the previously obtained conceptual scheme with new facts. Sometimes relationships encourage you to borrow money.