Decrease in greeting lip kisses among Russians due to COVID-19, according to a survey
In 2020, both Almaty.tv and aif.ru reported a significant decrease in kissing greetings and handshakes among Russians, marking a shift in common practices as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM) conducted a survey that year, examining changes in greeting habits among Russians, but did not cite any specific reason for these changes. The survey reported a 13% decrease in hugging and a 7% decrease in smiling, as well as a 6% decrease in nodding when meeting friends and family. However, it did not report on the percentage of people in Russia shaking hands during the pandemic.
The VCIOM survey did not provide data on greeting behaviours in any years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the sources Almaty.tv and aif.ru did not provide data on greeting behaviours in any years prior to 2019 or 2020. The decrease in handshakes among Russians in 2020 was substantial, with only 38% of Russians shaking hands compared to 50% in 2019. In Almaty, the percentage of people greeting friends and family with a kiss decreased by half, according to aif.ru.
The sources did not mention any increase in other forms of greetings among Russians during this time, nor did they indicate whether the decrease in greeting behaviours continued into 2021 or later years. Verbal greetings increased by 1% among Russians during the pandemic, according to the VCIOM.
As the pandemic continued, Russian greeting habits, like many places worldwide, adapted to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Common trends observed included a reduction or avoidance of physical contact, an increased use of non-contact greetings, and some people opting for elbow bumps or waving as safer alternatives to handshakes or hugs.
Public health recommendations and individual caution influenced these shifts, but as restrictions eased, practices likely varied by region and personal preference. To get precise, current sociological data specific to Russians’ greeting behaviours during the ongoing pandemic in 2025, specialized surveys or studies from Russian social research institutes would be necessary.
The VCIOM survey, conducted in 2020, delved into changes in greeting habits among Russians, revealing a 13% decrease in hugging, a 7% decrease in smiling, and a 6% decrease in nodding, but did not report on mental-health effects from these changes. As the world prioritized science and health-and-wellness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental-health concerns surrounding social isolation and reduced human interaction rose among Russians and globally.
