Children’s participation rights in schools — teachers’ beliefs and practices

Schools represent an important context for implementing participation rights guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child into the lives of children in general and into the lives of children from vulnerable groups. Providing opportunities for children to exercise their participation rights has been linked to positive youth development and universal prevention efforts in schools. Available evidence points to the importance of beliefs regarding children’s agency and participation practices. This study extends available research by investigating elementary-, middle- and high-school teachers’ beliefs about children’s participation rights and their link to participation conducive teacher practices in schools. A comprehensive mediational model is tested, which posits that teachers’ image of children as capable, active and agentic is associated with more support for children’s participation rights, which in turn predict student-centered participatory teaching and classroom management behaviors. Teachers’ support for participation rights was measured using contextualized vignettes including both general situations and situations specific to children from vulnerable groups. A total of 519 elementary, middle and high-school teachers completed several online questionnaires. Results showed that teachers have an ambivalent image of children’s capacity and agency for decision- making, and that this view does not depend on the children’s age. Having a more positive image of children and supporting children’s participation rights more predicted student-centered teaching style and less controlling classroom management styles. Support for children’s participation rights was a significant mediator of the relationship between the teachers’ image of the children and their participation-fostering classroom practices. These findings have important practical implications for school climates which promote high-quality teaching, the prevention of problem behaviors and positive youth development

Ivana Ferić VRIJEDNOSTI I VRIJEDNOSNI SUSTAVI – PSIHOLOGIJSKI PRISTUP

Vjerojatno ne postoji osoba koja si barem jednom u životu nije postavila pitanja poput: "Što mi je važno u životu?"; "Kojim se načelima vodim u životu?"; "Je li mi važnija obitelj ili posao?" i sl. Važnost ovih pitanja poticala je brojne filozofe, politologe, sociologe, psihologe i druge znanstvenike da proučavanju vrijednosti pristupe sustavno i empirijski. O njihovoj znatiželji i interesu danas svjedoči vrlo velik broj djela. Međutim, knjiga Ivane Ferić "Vrijednosti i vrijednosni sustavi: psihologijski pristup", u izdanju zagrebačke Alinee, prvo je sveobuhvatno djelo jednoga domaćeg autora

Percipirana partnerova pozitivna i negativna ponašanja i zadovoljstvo brakom

The aim of the study was to examine how perceived spouse's affectionate and antagonistic behaviours contribute to one's marital satisfaction. Firstly, we explored whether perception of partner's affectionate and antagonistic behaviours vary with gender, age, length of marriage and family structure. Secondly, we examined the relation between perceived partner's behaviour and marital satisfaction, while controlling for contextual variables. Questionnaire assessing love, marital satisfaction, perceived partners' affectionate and antagonistic behaviours and demographic data was administered to a heterogeneous sample of 302 married couples from Croatia with the average marriage length of 18 years and age span of 20–82 years. Results indicate that perceived spouse's affectionate and antagonistic behaviours both contribute to marital satisfaction with the impact of antagonistic behaviours being buffered when it appears in affectionate relationship. These effects are not moderated by age, gender, marriage duration or family structure. Finally, the perception of partner's affectionate and antagonistic behaviours had significant incremental power over feelings of love and other contextual variables when predicting marital satisfaction.Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati kakav efekt percepcija partnerova ponašanja, točnije iskazivanja naklonosti i neprijateljstva, ima na zadovoljstvo brakom. Istražili smo razlike u percipiranom partnerovom iskazivanju naklonosti i antagonizma s obzirom na rod, dob, trajanje braka i roditeljstvo. Osim toga, ispitali smo odnos između percepcije partnerova ponašanja i zadovoljstva brakom, kontrolirajući pritom kontekstualne varijable. Upitnik s pitanjima o intenzitetu ljubavi, zadovoljstvu brakom, iskazivanju naklonosti i neprijateljstva primijenjen je na heterogenom uzorku od 302 bračna para iz Hrvatske s prosječnim trajanjem braka od 18 godina te dobnim rasponom od 20 do 82 godine. Partnerovo iskazivanje naklonosti i neprijateljstva značajno su povezani s bračnim zadovoljstvom, pri čemu visoka razina iskazivanja naklonosti predstavlja zaštitni faktor u brakovima s visokom razinom neprijateljskoga ponašanja. Ovaj odnos ne ovisi o rodu, dobi, trajanju braka ili strukturi obitelji. Uz važnu ulogu konteksta i intenziteta ljubavi u predviđanju bračnoga zadovoljstva, dobivena je značajna inkrementalna valjanost percepcije iskazivanja naklonosti i neprijateljstva supružnika u predviđanju bračnoga zadovoljstva

What predicts the willingness of heterosexual persons to behave in a positive or negative manner towards homosexual persons?

While we know much about what determines attitudes towards gays and lesbians, less research attention has been given to the determinants of behavioral intentions towards these sexual minorities. Our goal is to examine the factors associated with one’s intention to discriminate against gays and lesbians (negative behavior) and those associated with one’s intention to become involved in affirmative behaviors directed toward them (positive behavior). We are interested in whether socio-demographic characteristics, which are known predictors of attitudes, such as gender, age, education, religiosity and political orientation, also predict positive and negative behavioral intentions towards homosexuals. An additional goal is to investigate the role of both direct and indirect contact with gays and lesbians for the prediction of behavioral intentions. The study was conducted online, with 997 exclusively heterosexual participants. Scales, constructed for the purpose of this study, measured the propensity to discriminate against homosexuals, readiness to engage in activities directed towards the amelioration of homosexuals’ social status, direct and indirect contact, and socio-demographic characteristics. Results show that our participants are relatively ready to discriminate against homosexual persons in the areas of politics, workplace, and tenant rights. Also, they are not particularly ready to engage in affirmative activities, especially if these include more effort and direct contact with gays and lesbians. Men, older persons, more religious persons, more politically conservative persons, and those who had less direct contact with gays and lesbians were more prone to discriminate against them. Women, less religious persons, more politically liberal persons and those who had more direct and indirect contact with gays and lesbians were more ready to engage in affirmative actions. Results are discussed in light of their practical implications for education and prevention programs directed toward reducing discrimination and increasing affirmative action aimed to increase equality of homosexual persons in today’s society

Stavovi studenata o pravima osoba homoseksualne orijentacije

Postojeća društvena situacija u Hrvatskoj pitanje stavova prema gejevima i lezbijkama i njihovim pravima čini posebno aktualnima. Dosadašnja istraživanja u Hrvatskoj uglavnom su se bavila odrednicama općih stavova prema homoseksualnim osobama, pri čemu su zanemareni stavovi prema njihovim pravima. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je detaljnije ispitati stavove studenata/ica upravo prema pravima gejeva i lezbijki, što je posebno zanimljivo jer je istraživanje provedeno u trenutku kada se u Hrvatskoj pripremao Zakon o životnom partnerstvu osoba istog spola, koji je sada na snazi, a kojim se regulira većina tih prava. Osim što nas je zanimalo koja prava se podržavaju, ispitali smo i podržavaju li se prava gejeva i lezbijki u različitoj mjeri, odnosno razlikuju li se studenti i studentice u tome koliko podržavaju prava gejeva/lezbijki. Dodatni cilj bio je provjeriti jesu li rod, religioznost, iskustvo kontakta s osobama homoseksualne orijentacije, sudjelovanje u nastavi na temu homoseksualne orijentacije i moderne predrasude prema homoseksualnim osobama značajne odrednice podržavanja prava gejeva i lezbijki. Istraživanje je provedeno na ukupno 1 551 studentu/ici heteroseksualne orijentacije različitih studijskih usmjerenja Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Rijeci, Splitu i Osijeku. Korišteni su Skala stavova prema pravima gejeva/lezbijki, Skala modernih predrasuda prema homoseksualnim osobama, a prikupljeni su i opći podaci o sudionicima te podaci o stupnju kontakta s homoseksualnim osobama, religioznosti, nastavi tijekom studija o temi različitosti te zainteresiranosti za tematiku povezanu s homoseksualnim osobama. Najveću podršku sudionici/e pružaju pravu lezbijki i gejeva da konkuriraju na radna mjesta i pravu na posjećivanje partnera/ice u bolnici, a tek u manjoj mjeri pružaju podršku pravima na usvajanje djece, na sklapanje braka i na medicinski potpomognutu oplodnju. Studentice u većoj mjeri podržavaju prava i gejeva i lezbijki u odnosu na studente. Nakon kontrole interesa za tematiku ravnopravnosti homoseksualnih osoba, prava lezbijki i gejeva više podržavaju žene, osobe koje imaju slabije izražene moderne predrasude prema homoseksualnim osobama, nižu religioznost te viši stupanj kontakta s homoseksualnim osobama. Dobiveni nalazi uglavnom su u skladu s očekivanjima, a raspravljene su i moguće praktične implikacije nalaza. (IN ENGLISH: Current public debates in Croatia brought the issues of gay and lesbian civil rights to the forefront of scientific interest. So far, Croatian researches were mostly interested in the determinants of general attitudes towards gays and lesbians, while research on attitudes toward their civil rights remained neglected. Our study aimed to investigate student attitudes toward gay and lesbian civil rights, which is especially interesting because the study was conducted in the moment when the Life Partnership Act for the Persons of the Same Sex, which is now in force, was being prepared. in the study also deals with gender differences in the support of gay and lesbian civil rights. The determinants of attitudes toward gay and lesbian civil rights - gender, religiosity, social contact with gays and lesbians, courses on the topic of homosexuality and modern prejudice toward homosexual persons were also analysed. A total of 1551 heterosexual students from the University of Zagreb, University of Rijeka, University of Split and University of Osijek participated in the study. We used Attitudes toward gay/lesbian civil rights scale, Modern prejudice toward homosexual persons scale and we asked participants about their contact with gays/lesbians, religiosity, courses on the topic of homosexuality at the university and their interest in gay and lesbian issues. Students held the most favourable attitudes toward gay and lesbian employment rights and the right to visit their partner in the hospital. They supported gay and lesbian marriage, adoption and in vitro fertilization to a lesser extent. Women supported all the gay and lesbian rights more than men. After controlling for their interest in gay and lesbian issues, women, particularly those with less prejudice toward homosexual persons, those who are less religious and who have more contact with gays and lesbians gave more support to gay and lesbian civil rights. Our findings are mostly expected, and they have clear practical implications.

Minority stress and mental health of homosexual and bisexual men and women: A review of research on the minority stress model from a Croatian perspective

According to numerous research studies, homo- and bisexual persons are twice as likely to develop mental health problems during their lifetime than heterosexual persons. The main goal of this review paper is to show how this higher incidence of poor mental health and well-being can be explained by the minority stress model. According to this model, sexual minorities are facing everyday challenges such as stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, which create a stressful environment for them. The paper explains the minority stress model proposed by Meyer and reviews current empirical findings supporting the model and its assumptions. Since social context is an integral part of this model, we review existing research that has examined parts of the minority stress model in Croatia, and look at the model from the perspective of contemporary Croatian society. Current research shows that different parts of the model are validated in the Croatian context. LGB persons who have experienced victimization and discrimination have poorer mental health. Concealing one’s sexual identity does seem to lead to fewer opportunities for victimization and discrimination, but it is also associated with low self-esteem and quality of life. On the other hand, being open about one’s sexual orientation is associated with greater well-being. Being involved and active in the LGB community seems to be the path leading to better visibility and acceptance of LGB’s in the Croatian society. Finally, this paper contributes to the enrichment of minority stress findings by including research on bisexual persons that points to the existence of extra added stress due to double discrimination of bisexual persons by both heterosexual and homosexual persons

Friendship Maintenance Strategies and Satisfaction in Same-Sex Friendships – Actor-Partner Effects

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati ulogu strategija održavanja odnosa pri zadovoljstvu istospolnim prijateljstvima, uključujući pitanje koliko zadovoljstvu prijateljstvom pridonosi ponašanje pojedinca, a koliko ponašanje prijatelja. Dodatno se željelo provjeriti hoće li dinamika pojedinih strategija održavanja odnosa na zadovoljstvo prijateljstvom biti ista kod muško-muških i kod žensko-ženskih prijateljskih dijada. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 196 parova žensko-ženskih i muško-muških prijatelja od 19 do 30 godina. Ispitane su strategije održavanja prijateljstva i zadovoljstvo prijateljskim odnosom. Rezultati pokazuju kako je osobna upotreba strategija iskazivanja bliskosti te zajedničke aktivnosti i interakcija povezana s većim zadovoljstvom prijateljstvom, dok su negativna, antagonistička ponašanja povezana s manjim zadovoljstvom i u muškim i u ženskim prijateljstvima. Efekti ponašanja prijatelja nisu se pokazali značajnima u muško-muškim prijateljstvima, dok žene, čije prijateljice rabe više strategije iskazivanja bliskosti istodobno izvještavaju o većem zadovoljstvu prijateljstvom s tom prijateljicom. Nalazi su raspravljeni u kontekstu rodnih i kulturalnih razlika u strategijama održavanja bliskih odnosa.The aim of this study was to examine the role friendship maintenance strategies play in satisfaction with same-sex friendships, with a particular interest in actor and partner effects of friendship maintenance strategies and whether these differ in male and female same-sex friendships. The study involved 196 pairs of friends 19-30 years old, both male/male and female/female pairs. The results revealed significant actor effects for all three dimensions of friendship maintenance strategies, such that both men and women who show more affection, show less antagonism and interact with friends more, are more satisfied with their friendships. No partner effects were significant for male same-sex friendships. In female same-sex friendships we found a significant partner effect for expressing affection – women with more affectionate female friends are more satisfied with their friendships. The results are discussed in the context of gender and cultural differences in friendship maintenance strategies

Does equity in ways of showing love matter for marital satisfaction?

The aim of this study was to test the predictions derived from the equity theory, social exchange principle and research dealing with marital climate about the relationship between equity in the ways of showing love between partners and marital satisfaction. The sample consisted of 302 Croatian married couples of different age (20-82 years) and from various urban/rural backgrounds. Marriage length varied between one month and 57 years. Along with asking about marital satisfaction, we administered The Ways of Showing Love Scale. Equity was assessed as a similarity between how much (in total and in every of the six specific ways) an individual shows love to his/her partner and his/her perception of how his/her partner shows love to him/her. According to equity theory, individuals who show and perceive a similar amount of love, no matter whether this amount is big or small, should be more satisfied with their relationship. Individuals who are underbenefited should be less satisfied, while individuals who are overbenefited should be somewhere in the middle. Results did not confirm this hypothesis. We found that both men and women with a high score on both showing and perceiving love are most satisfied with their marriage. Underbenefited and overbenefited individuals do not differ, and have somewhat lesser scores on marital satisfaction. Those with a low score on both showing and perceiving love are the least satisfied. The results suggest the importance of positive socioemotional climate for marital satisfaction

HOW TO DEFINE AND MEASURE STUDENTS\u27 COMPETENCIES – VALIDATION OF THE PERCEIVED COMPETENCE FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK SCALE

Suvremeni pristupi definiranja i razvoja pojedinih struka usmjereni su na određivanje generalnih i specifičnih kompetencija koje su potrebne za uspješno obavljanje poslova. Isto je i sa suvremenim studijskim programima koji u sklopu svakog kolegija te završetka pojedine obrazovne cjeline moraju definirati obrazovne ishode, odnosno kompetencije studenata po njegovom završetku. Predmet ovog teksta je definirati kompetencije u kontekstu psihosocijalnog rada, kao zajedničkom elementu profesionalnog djelovanja psihologa, socijalnih radnika i socijalnih pedagoga, te prikazati razvoj i metrijske karakteristike Skale percipirane kompetentnosti za psihosocijalni rad primijenjene su na studentima navedenih struka.U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 585 studenata završnih godina psihologije, socijalnog rada i socijalne pedagogije, od čega 302 studenta koji su studirali prema tzv. starom modelu studijskog programa i 283 studenta preddiplomskog studija prema tzv. bolonjskom modelu. Postupak validacije Skale percipirane kompetentnosti za psihosocijalni rad pokazuje stabilnu, ali različitu faktorsku strukturu s obzirom na model studijskog programa, te dobre metrijske karakteristike. Obrasci povezanosti s drugim varijablama govore u prilog konstruktne valjanosti skale. Rezultati istraživanja upućuju na raspravu o realnim razlikama u strukturi kompetentnosti studenata s obzirom na način studiranja.The modern approaches to defining and developing of individual professions are focused on determining general and specific competencies needed for successful performance of work-related tasks. The same applies to current study programmes which need to define learning outcomes, i.e. students\u27 competencies within each of the offered courses and each educational cycle. The paper aims to define competencies in the context of psychosocial work, as a common element of professional activities of psychologists, social workers and social pedagogues as well to present the development and metric characteristics of the Perceived Competence for Psychosocial Work Scale applied to students in the mentioned fields. The participants of the research were 585 final-year psychology, social work and social pedagogy students, out of which 302 students studied within the so called old model of the study programme while 283 students of the undergraduate programme were studying in the framework of the so called Bologna model. The validation procedure of the Perceived Competence for Psychosocial Work Scale showed stable but different factorial structure depending on the study programme model as well as good metric characteristics. The connectivity patterns with other variables suggest a construct validity of the Scale. The research results support a discussion on real differences in the structure of students\u27 competencies depending on the study programme model